On November 11th the ODYSSEA project had its first public conference in North Africa organized by its Egypt-based partner, RAED (The Arab Network for Environment andDevelopment) with the cooperation of NIOF (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries) in the Abu Qir area.
About 50 participants, representing civil society, research institutes and academia, national authorities (Environment and Agriculture ministries) and fishermen were initiated to the objectives and the working plan of the ODYSSEA project.
The Speakers included the ODYSSEA project Scientific Coordinator and chief of the DELTARES team, DrGhada ElSerafy, the General Coordinatorof RAED, Dr. Emad Adly, Director of NIOF in Alexandria Dr. Abeer ElSaharty, Director General of Environmental Quality and Labs EEAA “Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency” Dr. SamehAyouband its International Project Manager, Eng.Essam Nada.
The agenda of the event was divided into two sessions, introductory and orientation session and open discussion session.
The eventdemonstrated the real interest of people working at sea for innovation and cooperation, something that led to a wide ranging discussion which helped to highlight the vast opportunities and also the challenges that lie ahead on the road to turning operational oceanography information to a driver of sustainable business models in the Blue Economy sector in Egypt.
This focus of ODYSSEA on making operational oceanography information easily accessible, meaningful and useful to end users coupled with its approach based on multi-disciplinary, multi-level collaboration attracted the attention of local media which widely covered the meeting.
“Although the real benefits for the local end users are yet to come” notedEssam Nada”we are counting a lot on the establishment and operation of the local Observatory. It is the step that will truly demonstrate the capacity building potential and the effective impact of the ODYSSEA project”.
Speakers and some Attendees at the end of the event
Discussion continues during the break
Speaker panel, (from R. to L.) Dr. Ghada El Serafy, Dr. Emad Adly, Dr Mohammed Said, Dr. Abeer ElSaharty
Odyssea project Scientific Manager, Dr. Ghada El Serafy presents ODYSSEA
