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The 8th of June marks World Ocean Day, a day designated by the UN nearly 30 years ago to emphasize the crucial role of healthy oceans in sustaining life on Earth. In 2024, the Netherlands amplified its commitment to this cause through , a collaborative effort by the Sustainable Ocean Community (an initiative from Utrecht University and NIOZ), the Royal Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Naturalis Biodiversity Center, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The initiative featured a range of events, including a policy discussion, public outreach activities in museums across the Netherlands, and the establishment of the first National Ocean Science Conference.

The inaugural National Ocean Science Conference successfully brought together over 200 participants, including scientists at all career stages, students, policymakers, NGOs, and industry leaders. The conference provided a dynamic platform for networking, transdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge exchange on key ocean sustainability topics. Attendees engaged in discussions on marine conservation, climate resilience, and ocean governance, with researchers from IMAU actively participating—whether by sharing updates on the ‘Whose Ocean?’ project, presenting posters, or delivering outreach talks at Naturalis and Artis.

A thought-provoking keynote by Milan Meyberg on voicing the ocean through AI sparked diverse reactions among the audience. While it challenged some perspectives, it also strengthened the sense of community—a key objective of the conference. Summaries and photos of all activities were shared via the WERELDOCEAANDAGEN .

Building on last year’s success, we are excited to announce that the second edition of the National Ocean Science Conference will take place on June 3, 2025!

This year’s program features cutting-edge marine research including speakers such as René van Westen and Laura Villanueva, and engaging breakout sessions on topics such as ocean literacy and marine research facilities.  our moderator , to collectively explore the theme “Whose Ocean? Whose Future? Whose Responsibility?” from diverse disciplinary perspectives—a timely discussion ahead of the upcoming One Ocean and UN Ocean Conference in Nice later that week. We invite all  to submit a poster abstract via  before the 13th of April, to get the opportunity to share their research / activities and connect with experts across disciplines.

We hope to sea you at the National Ocean Science Conference 2025! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or ideas for the community.