The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences cordially invites you to participate in the International Sopot Youth Conference (ISYC 2026), which will take place on 10 June 2026 at the Institute of Oceanology in Sopot, Poland.
The conference is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers. Participants will have the opportunity to present their research findings, ideas, and experiences within two thematic tracks: Humanities and Social Sciences and Natural and Exact Sciences.
The event will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation. We particularly encourage attendees to join the interdisciplinary session dedicated to inclusivity in science, which will provide a platform for exchanging perspectives and experiences across different disciplines.
The conference proceedings will be published with an ISBN number, enabling participants to cite their contributions in future scientific publications. As in previous editions, the authors of the best presentations will be recognized with awards.
This year's edition of the conference is organized in cooperation with the EU Erasmus+ YOLA project initiative.
More information are available on the Conference website.
We warmly invite you to join us!
On 21 April 2026, the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), based in Incheon, Republic of Korea.
The agreement marks a new stage in scientific cooperation between the two institutions, creating new opportunities for Arctic research, particularly in the fields of environmental change, marine ecosystem functioning, biogeochemical cycles, and long-term variability of the Arctic environment.
The cooperation will include, among other activities, the exchange of scientific knowledge and data, mobility opportunities for researchers and students, participation in joint research cruises and fieldwork, as well as the preparation of joint research projects and scientific publications.
The MoU was signed by the Director of IO PAN, Prof. Sławomir Sagan, and the President of KOPRI, Dr Hyoung Chul Shin.
The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences invites you to an international stakeholder seminar organised as part of the BIODIVERSA+ project Detect2Protect entitled 'New approaches in determining the impacts of chemical pollution to protect the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea'.
The meeting will take place on 20 May 2026 (Wednesday), from 13:00 to 15:00 (CET) and will be held online via MS Teams.
The Detect2Protect project, implemented by an international consortium, aims to develop innovative methods for monitoring and assessing the state of the marine environment, as well as to improve understanding of the links between chemical pollution and biodiversity loss in the Baltic Sea. The project promotes a more holistic approach based on so-called effect-based methods (EBM), enabling a better assessment of pollution impacts.
The seminar will provide an opportunity to learn more about the project, exchange knowledge, and engage in discussion with scientists and stakeholders involved in marine environmental protection.
Those interested in participating are kindly asked to register by 11 May 2026 via email: pazdro@iopan.pl. A link to the meeting will be sent to all registered participants.
More information about the project (including three newsletters published so far)
The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) is a partner in the LIFE FOR RIVERS project (L4R), funded under the European Union's LIFE Programme, Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme. The project aims to improve the ecological status of the Parsęta River and its catchment through river restoration measures and the implementation of Nature-based Solutions.
Running from 2025 to 2031, the project focuses on restoring river connectivity, rehabilitating aquatic and wetland habitats, improving migration conditions for fish, increasing water retention, and enhancing ecosystem resilience to climate change. The total project budget amounts to approximately EUR 15.2 million.
The Marine Organisms Genetics Laboratory at the Department of Marine Genetics and Biotechnology of IO PAN is actively involved in the project. The team contributes expertise in research on aquatic organisms, their genetic diversity, and their responses to environmental change. These studies will improve our understanding of how river restoration measures influence freshwater ecosystem functioning and support the recovery of aquatic species populations.
The project is implemented by an international consortium of partners from Poland and Spain, representing public authorities, non-governmental organisations, and research institutions. Its outcomes will contribute to improving the ecological status of the Parsęta River catchment while reducing environmental pressures on the Baltic Sea.
At the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences in Sopot, the annual meeting of the Steering Committee of the Integrated Marine Debris Observing System (IMDOS) is taking place.
On 19–20 March, experts from around the world are working together on:
▪️ strengthening the role of IMDOS within the global marine debris observing system
▪️ improving coordination of activities and harmonisation of data
▪️ developing monitoring standards (including microplastics, seafloor litter, and beach debris)
▪️ preparing an action plan for the coming years
In parallel, discussions are ongoing on the future development of IMDOS, including its scope of activities, community engagement, and the advancement of tools and data infrastructure.
This marks an important step towards building a coherent, global system for observing marine pollution.
The SecuCoast project consortium has published the first project newsletter. The publication presents key information about the project, its objectives, partners, and the first activities carried out within the initiative.
We invite you to read the first issue of the newsletter and follow upcoming updates from the project.
The SecuCoast project is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe Programme under the 2023 Joint Transnational Call of the European Partnership Water4All (Grant Agreement n°101060874).
