News

PLUXIN, one of the most comprehensive studies in Flemish coastal waters, seaports and estuaries, shows that plastic particles are everywhere. The quantities of 'microplastic' are an order of magnitude larger than the larger litter. It accumulates in riverbeds and on their banks. And estuaries, such as the Scheldt, are not sources of plastic to the open sea, but rather settling places. In turn, the...

Are you an early career ocean professionals working in Belgium or from the Global South? Then this call is your opportunity to personally attend the Ocean Decade conference 2024 in Barcelona. And to co-deliver the science we need, for the ocean we want. The application deadline is 26 January 2024.

The Flemish government, through the VLIZ, is investing half a million EUR in the development of an underwater sound library for the North Sea. With these funds, the VLIZ aims to achieve automatic recognition of natural and human noise sources in the sea. Such knowledge and tools are essential for offshore security and for numerous AI-based research initiatives. Flemish Minister for Science, Jo...

The charity arm of VLIZ - The Sea as a Good Cause – sets two travel grants available (each worth EUR 3000) for promising young marine scientists from the Global South, for participation in the Ecopath40 conference and workshop in June 2024.

The importance of marine research and innovation is greater than ever before, driven by the ocean's key role in addressing major societal challenges. The Belgian marine research and innovation landscape is taking an increasingly prominent role with high-quality, internationally oriented research at the interface between people, the environment and the economy.

On Friday 1 December 2023 at 14h00, the Scientific Guidance Committee of the VLIZ Scientific Committee will meet at the InnovOcean Campus in Oostende. Marine experts from scientific institutions, policy and industry are kindly invited to attend this open meeting. This is thé time to be informed about VLIZ's activities and its research agenda for 2024. That afternoon, the Compendium for Coast and...

Be part of the programme of VLIZ Marine Science Day 2024 on 6 March 2024 at De Grote Post in Oostende. The #VMSD24 – formally framed within the Belgian EU Presidency – will revolve entirely around the EU Mission Ocean & Waters, and its three main themes: ocean pollution, climate/carbon, and biodiversity. Make your own research part of the #VMSD24 programme and submit an abstract by 12 January 2024...

Between 6 and 9 November 2023, over a hundred ocean carbon scientists from around the world are gathered at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Oostende, Belgium, to review the status of the Surface Ocean Carbon Value Chain and decide on specific improvements to the structure, process and resulting delivery of critical information towards policy makers. In the near future this will be done by...

The EU is providing €13.2 million for in-depth research into the drowned and buried landscape of the North and Baltic Seas. Scientists from Flanders Marine Institute will join forces with the University of Bradford, the Geological Survey of the Netherlands and the University of York in a shared quest to explore traces of buried Stone Age settlements.

The Sea as a Good Cause supports young, original-thinking marine researchers by once again awarding 6 research grants - each worth EUR 5,000. PhD students and junior postdocs in Flanders, as well as PhD students from the South, who dare to think out-of-the box, are eligible for this research funding. Deadline for submitting proposals: 26 January 2024.

Have you recently defended your BSc, MSc or PhD thesis on a marine research theme? Then you have until 31 December to apply for one of the VLIZ Marine Science Awards 2023. From now on, with a slight twist in the conditions to participate.

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), hosted and managed by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), is proud to announce its partnership with Ocean Census. This collaboration will harness WoRMS’ expertise and global leadership in marine taxonomy and taxonomic data management to take a leading role in Ocean Census’s commitment to accelerate the discovery of ocean life and catalyse its...

The culinary competition Olivier Roellinger challenges chefs and floor staff to choose for sustainable fish and correctly inform their customers about it. The competition is open to young chefs, students at catering schools, and floor staff in training. The idea of the competition is to choose consciously for sustainable seafood and so contribute to ocean conservation. Candidates can submit their...

Funded through the EC Horizon Europe Programme and coordinated by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), the project aims at incorporating previously unavailable or difficult-to-access marine-biodiversity data into the biodiversity component of the EU Digital Twin Ocean, ensuring sustainable data flows for marine biodiversity research. Marine habitats present specific and one-of-a-kind issues when...

All underway data recorded by the research vessel RV Simon Stevin enter a data system at the Flanders Marine Institute VLIZ. Have a look at the revamped MIDAS website, where you can watch and retrieve all info and data (meteo, navigation and water quality) from sampling campaigns.

Two promising young marine scientists from Chile and Ecuador were offered a travel grant through the VLIZ philanthropy. With this grant, they participated in the international Blue Science and Technology summer training, in Ostend, Ghent and Zeeland. A nice great stepping stone for their further professional careers!

Last month, the Innovative Solutions for Plastic Free European Rivers (INSPIRE Europe) consortium kicked off the start of a new four-year project. 25 partners spread across Europe and one partner from Thailand will join forces to reduce the plastic pollution in European rivers.