Embargoed until 3 December 2012

Boost for marine science in South Africa Marine science in South Africa will receive a major boost when some of the worlds leading experts in the field gather in Cape Town in December to explore collaboration opportunities as part of the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013. Co-hosted by the Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Science (ACCESS) and the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), representatives from ten South African universities and research agencies will meet with delegations from Germany, Norway and France from 3 to 6 December to explore a range of opportunities for developing marine science and related research collaboration in the coastal and continental shelf domain over the coming decade. According to Dr Neville Sweijd, ACCESS acting director, South Africas geographical location and natural marine resources confer an attractive opportunity to partner with international scientists who are keen to co-operate in existing efforts: There is growing recognition and appreciation of the complexity and globally important physical and ecological dynamics of our coastal and oceanic environment. South African research institutions and the South African government have invested significant resources into our research programmes. The most recent acquisition of the RV Agulhas II is a prime example. Dr Werner Ekau, the German counterpart from ZMT and co-convener noted that: Germany has been involved in Marine Science research in southern Africa for several decades now, and the existing level of skill and expertise here, as well as the continuous need for skills development provide for a meaningful and productive engagement in South Africa. There is a lot to learn

from working here, for all of us and a lot that the research can have impact on. Focusing on the South African west and east coast, the four-day workshop will hear presentations and discussions on the interaction of physical ocean characteristics such as sea temperature, currents and chemistry, how that affects the biological processes in the ocean such as fisheries and the impacts of climate change, pollution and over-fishing. One of the main outcomes of the workshop will be scientific project proposals and significant training and capacity building initiatives. Invited senior international visitors include Prof Kay Emeis from Helmholtz Research Center Geesthacht in Germany and Prof Eystein Jansen from the Bjerkness Center of Climate Research in Norway; The South African delegation includes Professors John Field (UCT), Janine Adams (NMMU), Digby Cyrus (UZulu), Prof William Froneman (Rhodes U), Dr Mike Schleyer (Oceanographic Research Institute and chair of the Southern African Networks for Coastal and Oceanographic Research) and several other academic leaders and programme managers from the region (see attached list of attendees). Germany and South Africa are celebrating 16 years of cooperation in science and technology and have agreed to conduct several initiatives to foster local skills development and innovation, while providing a platform for further joint ventures in science between the two countries. The marine science workshop is sponsored by the German Ministry of Education and Research and South Africas Department of Science and Technology.

Media representatives are invited to attend the opening ceremony; the keynote lectures and a lunch meeting with the press Venue: Tsogo Sun Nelson Mandela Boulevard Date: 3 December 2012 Time: 12:30 2:00 RSVP Dr Neville Sweijd at nsweijd@access.ac.za Attendance: Ms Maja Clausen (Head of Research, Science and Innovation, German Embassy, Pretoria) Ms Susanne Korich (Coordinator SPACES, Project Management Jlich, Germany) Mr Andre Share (Chief Director: Oceans and Coasts Research, Department: Environmental Affairs, South Africa) Mr Leluma Matooane (Director Earth Systems Science, Department: Science and Technology, South Africa) Dr Neville Sweijd (ACCESS, South Africa), co-organizer of the workshop Dr Werner Ekau (Leibniz Zentrum fr Marine Tropenkologie ZMT, Germany), co-organizer of the workshop Dr Mike Schleyer (Oceanographic Research Institute, South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research, South Africa) Dr David Vousden, GEF Agulhas Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems Programme Professor John Field (UCT / ACCESS, South Africa) Prof Kay Emeis (Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Germany) Professor Eystein Jansen (Bjerkness Center of Climate Research, Norway) Professor Jonny Johannessen (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Norway)