GOPS delegation to visit New Zealand

GOPS delegation to visit New Zealand

Created in 2009, the GOPS (Grand Observatoire de L’environnement et de la Biodiversité Terrestre et Marine du Pacifique Sud or South Pacific Integrated Observatory for Environment and Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity) is a research observatory, the headquarters for which are located in Noumea, New Caledonia. Consisting of 17 universities and research centres from the Pacific region, the GOPS is intended to be a “consortium of existing and future observatories” with the mission of responding to scientific questions, on a global and regional scale, based on observation, and the long term monitoring of the environment and ecosystems.

In June 2012, the GOPS and NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) signed a cooperation agreement which relates to severalthemes of mutual interest: marine ecosystems, natural hazards, climate change, water quality, management of marine resources, and biosecurity. In the framework of this agreement, a delegation from the GOPS will visit New Zealand from the 12th to the 15th of May.

The primary purpose of the visit is to hold a scientific council in which the two organisations will discuss past projects and those which are currently underway, as well as initiate new studies. The delegation’s program also includes a series of visits to New Zealand scientific institutions, including the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), GNS Sciences, and presentations of Landcare Research and AgResearch.

The Embassy of France in New Zealand welcomes this visit, which contributes to the fostering of exchanges of experience and expertise between scientists and academics on a regional scale. The themes studied concern major environmental issues for the Pacific.

ENDS

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