WHOI and Portuguese Institute of Ocean and Atmosphere sign a memorandum of understanding

Lisbon, Portugal — Today, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) signed a memorandum of understanding with Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), the Portuguese national authority responsible for monitoring the country’s ocean, atmosphere, and land. Like WHOI, IPMA also conducts basic research to support such areas as fisheries, human health, and climate predictions.

“We share a common interest with IPMA in improving knowledge about the North Atlantic,” said WHOI President and Director Peter de Menocal. It only makes sense that we would turn to our friends and colleagues across the ocean to ensure that we work together in the most effective and efficient way possible.”

De Menocal and IPMA President Miguel Miranda signed the documents in Lisbon, where a WHOI delegation is attending the UN Ocean Conference. The memorandum establishes areas of mutual interest where the two institutions will collaborate, including oceanography and the marine environment; marine living resources modeling and management; aquaculture, marine products upgrading, and bio-prospection; marine geology and geo-resources; and research vessels and deep-sea observatories. It also lays out that the two institutions will cooperate via the exchange of academic staff and students, research and academic activities, and the exchange of academic materials and other information.

“The oceans are global and it’s important we act accordingly so that we can support the lives, livelihoods, and security of people everywhere,” said de Menocal.

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About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in basic and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge and possibility. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu