The GEORGE consortium gathered in Rome, Italy on 19-21 November 2024 for its second annual meeting and general assembly, bringing together partners from across Europe to reflect on achievements and plan future actions in autonomous ocean observing technologies, integrated data flow and training.
The agenda included progress updates from work package leaders, presentations and discussions on novel technologies, as well as interactive workshops joint data flow, training, dissemination and exploitation of project results. The meeting served as a valuable platform for partners to exchange information, strengthen collaboration, and foster innovation.
The annual meeting included a workshop on exploitation of project results. The input from the workshop will be used in the upcoming project deliverable D7.3: Updated dissemination, communication, and exploitation plan.
Looking ahead, the consortium is preparing to achieve significant milestones in 2025. A key highlight will be the upcoming field campaign at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) observatory in the North Atlantic. During this campaign, scheduled for the summer of 2025, the integrated multi-platform observing system progressed in the GEORGE project will be tested for the first time. This deployment will utilise sensors developed within the project to conduct a comprehensive characterisation of the carbonate system using multiple platforms operated by ICOS, Euro-Argo and EMSO.
Another major milestone in 2025 will be the second Technical Forum, a training concept that connects technology manufacturers and scientists to co-develop ideas, exchange views, and provide feedback. The first Technical Forum, held in May 2024, focused on platform technologies. The second forum, scheduled for autumn 2025 in Oostende, Belgium, will concentrate on sensors. Further details will be announced closer to the date.
For the remainder of 2024, the consortium is prioritising the completion of three upcoming deliverables:
- D4.1: Interim report on how a central data service will benefit all RIs
- D4.3: Interim report on pathways from different platforms
- D7.3: Updated dissemination, communication, and exploitation plan
These deliverables will be published on the project website in January 2025.
The annual meeting also included a visit to WSense, a GEORGE partner and a deep-tech company specialised in underwater monitoring and communication systems.
The annual meeting was organised jointly by GEORGE coordinator ICOS ERIC and EMSO ERIC. Thank you to EMSO ERIC for hosting the consortium in Rome!