The Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)

(Established 1957)

 Status

Non-governmental interdisciplinary sub-body of ICSU.

Mission

To further international scientific activity in all branches of oceanic research.

Activities

Within ICSU, the advance of marine science devolves principally upon SCOR, whose purpose is defined in its constitution as being to further international scientific activity in all branches of oceanic research. This should be achieved through application of the following practices:

• To examine problems of oceanic research and identify elements that would benefit from enhanced international action. For this purpose, to organise scientific meetings on topics of broad interest and importance for progress in the marine sciences. To develop plans for appropriate kinds of international implementation.

• To establish working groups or other kinds of subsidiary bodies, either alone or in conjunction with other organisations, for detailed examination of problems related to international ocean activities and studies of the marine environment, including improvement of scientific methods, design of critical experiments and measurement programmes, and relevant aspects of science policy.

• To foster recognition of the contribution of individual marine scientists and laboratories, bringing to their attention specific problems requiring their consideration and encouraging an adequate level of support for their activities.

• To ascertain the views of marine scientists and interested ICSU bodies on scientific aspects of international ocean activities, and represent these views in appropriate international discussions. To develop support among marine scientists for international ocean research programmes.
• To cooperate with national and international organisations concerned with scientific aspects of ocean affairs. To review and comment on scientific aspects of international scientific programmes. To cooperate with and support affiliated organisations, and to interrelate their activities with those of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research.

The Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research maintains close relationships with:

• international non-governmental organisations devoted to some aspect of marine science and engineering wishing to collaborate with SCOR;

• sponsoring intergovernmental organisations, such as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), jointly with which two bodies ICSU has responsibility for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), which provide financial support and other services to SCOR, in return for which SCOR may undertake activities determined by mutual agreement; and

• other corresponding international organisations.

United Kingdom Interests

Lead Department

The Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG
Contact: Miss Ruth A Cooper.  International Section, Manager.
Telephone:+44 (0) 20 7839 5561  Email: Ruth.Cooper@royalsoc.ac.uk

As the adhering body, the Royal Society pays the United Kingdom membership subscription,  and appoints delegates to SCOR.

General Meetings — National adhering members of SCOR may propose up to three nominated members (delegates).

The Chairman of the UK Working Group is Professor Peter Burkhill.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH.
Telephone:  +44 (0) 1752 633100  Email: p.burkhill@pml.ac.uk

Other Interested Departments and Organisations

Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU

Briefing and Reporting Mechanisms

Briefing is through a specialist SCOR working group. Such briefings may include recommendations to SCOR of topics to be made themes of new SCOR working groups and proposals for their membership.

Perspective

SCOR is a scientific grass roots organisation. It establishes working groups (each with a finite lifetime) which may be proposed by individual scientists and passed via national committees for SCOR. The SCOR working groups include interests in reefs, muddy coasts and deep water oceanography. The reports are published in the open literature. The management of research programmes is not SCOR's primary role. Briefing for delegates to the biennial SCOR meetings is provided by the Royal Society SCOR Working Group. Nationally one of the issues is how to involve more working scientists: this is achieved, for example, through contacts with the membership of the Challenger Society and other similar organisations.