Overview
The International Indian Ocean Science Conference 2025 (IIOSC-2025), organized by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), commenced in Hyderabad on December 1, 2025. The conference emphasizes the importance of ocean sustainability, safety, resilience, and India’s leadership in advancing ocean research under the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science.
Key Developments
Conference Details
- Participants: Approximately 500 participants from 15 countries, representing research institutes, academia, industry, and NGOs.
- Focus: Showcasing progress and scientific knowledge gained during the second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2) spanning 2015–2025.
- Platform: Provides a platform for scientists to present research findings, exchange ideas, identify knowledge gaps, and chart a roadmap for addressing outstanding issues.
Key Speakers
- M. Ravichandran: Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences
- T. Srinivasa Kumar: Head, UNESCO-IOC Secretariat
- T.M. Balakrishnan Nair: Director, INCOIS
- Leading scientists from India and abroad
Conference Programme
- Outlining the future roadmap of IIOE-2, including new initiatives aligned with the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
- Discussions focusing on addressing knowledge gaps and challenges in coastal research and monitoring.
- Emphasis on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).
- Enhancing engagement of research communities in the western Indian Ocean, marginal seas, and the eastern Bay of Bengal.
- Capacity development and promoting early-career scientists to strengthen global ocean science collaboration.
UPSC Relevance
This conference is relevant to the UPSC syllabus, particularly in the areas of Geography (Oceanography), Science and Technology, and Environment and Ecology. It highlights India's role in international collaborations for ocean research and sustainable development, aligning with GS Paper 1 (Geography), GS Paper 3 (Science & Technology, Environment), and GS Paper 2 (International Organizations).
Important Facts
- IIOSC-2025 Location: Hyderabad
- Organizer: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
- IIOE-2 Duration: 2015-2025
- Key Focus Areas: Ocean sustainability, safety, and resilience
- Alignment: U.N. Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development