site.btaBulgarian Scientists Attend 33rd Session of IOC-UNESCO Assembly

A delegation from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) participated in the 33rd session of the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), the academy announced Thursday.

The Bulgarian delegation included Prof. Valentina Todorova, Director of the Institute of Oceanology at BAS, Prof. Atanas Palazov, Chairman of the National Oceanographic Commission, and Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Valchev, Vice-Chairman of IOC.

IOC-UNESCO promotes international cooperation in marine science for better management of oceans, coasts and marine resources. The organization brings together 152 member states in coordinated programmes for capacity development, ocean observations and services, tsunami warning and ocean literacy. The Commission also coordinates the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

The Bulgarian delegation actively participated in the discussions on all topics of importance to Bulgarian marine science, with the exceptional assistance of Iskra Angelova, Bulgaria’s deputy permanent representative to UNESCO.

Meetings were held with IOC Chair Prof. Yutaka Michida and representatives of the delegations of Poland, Turkiye, Greece, Belgium, Russia, and Japan. Opportunities for joint research and international expeditions were discussed.

On Ocean Science Day, celebrated on June 30, discussions were held on key global environmental challenges and approaches to overcoming them.

Prof. Palazov was awarded the N.K. Panikkar Medal for his contribution to the development of operational oceanography in the Black Sea and gave a commemorative lecture on building capacity for operational oceanography in the Black Sea.

In recognition of its contribution to international cooperation and the development of oceanographic research in the Black Sea, Bulgaria was elected a member of the IOC Executive Council, and Prof. Palazov was elected Vice-Chair of the Commission.