Institute of Oceanography cooperates with the Australian Institute of Marine Science to organize technology transfer training and improve coral reef monitoring capacity in Vietnam

10/06/2024

Within the framework of the Marine Resources Initiative (MRI), the Australian Government has committed to support and cooperate with maritime countries in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, to develop and sustainably manage natural resources. The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS) and the Institute of Oceanography (IO) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from January 2023 and a Cooperation Agreement in October 2023 to implement the project "Application of advanced technology to improve coral reef monitoring capacity in Vietnam". The training course on technology transfer and capacity building for coral reef monitoring in Vietnam was held from April 1 - April 13, 2024 at the Institute of Oceanography - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology within the framework of this collaborative project.

Through the training course, AIMS experts trained and guided 20 scientists and officials of Vietnam's marine protected areas to improve their capacity and skills in monitoring and managing coral reefs by applying technology. new technology ReefCloud and ReefScan equipment, as an improved basis for decision-making by local coral reef managers, serving the sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy.

Attending the opening session of the training course on April 1, 2024 were Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam; Ms. Eleanor Kennon, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy; Mr. Tran Hoa Nam, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Huynh Mong Giang, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Foreign Affairs; Associate Professor, PhD. Dao Viet Ha, Director of Institute of Oceanography; Dr. Ho Van The and Dr. Hoang Xuan Ben, Deputy Director of Institute of Oceanography; along with experts from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, scientists and managers of Vietnamese marine protected areas and central and local television agencies to report. The presence of the Ambassador and First Secretary of the Australian Embassy at the training course demonstrates the Australian Government's special interest in supporting and developing scientific cooperation between the two countries in general and between the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Institute of Oceanography.

Delegates attend the opening session

In the welcoming speech, Associate Professor, PhD. Dao Viet Ha, Director of Institute of Oceanography, expressed her sincere gratitude for the funding from the Australian Government and the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, the active support of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam to carry out this project and believes in It is believed that the project will promote cooperation between Australian and Vietnamese scientists in the field of coral reef monitoring.

Associate Professor, PhD. Dao Viet Ha, Director of Institute of Oceanography, speaks at the opening ceremony

After the Ambassador solemnly opened the training course, Mr. Tran Hoa Nam, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, gave a speech expressing his respect and support for the scientific cooperation relationship between the two countries and two institutions. important, emphasizing basic research, investigation, and application of scientific and technological advances to provide a scientific basis for oceanography, identifying potentials for applying advanced technology, Sustainable use of resources and protection of the marine environment are the top priorities of local authorities. He also expressed hope that the knowledge and experience shared by AIMS experts at the training course will help management agencies and scientists improve their capacity to monitor and protect coral reefs from impacts of climate change in Khanh Hoa province and the region.

Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, speaks at the meeting

Mr. Tran Hoa Nam, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, speaks at the working session

Delegates listened to Dr. Manuel Gonzalez, AIMS Coral Reef Monitoring and Restoration Team Leader, introduce the modern ReefScan and ReefCloud technologies in coral reef monitoring. While ReefScan is a camera system used to collect coral reef status, ReefCloud is a large open database to manage coral reef data. These are the leading advanced technologies that AIMS is developing and using to monitor coral reefs.

At the end of the opening session, the Ambassador, on behalf of the Australian Government and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, presented the Institute of Oceanography with 01 ReefScan device, four cameras and a number of tools and documents for the training of the course. training and use for future coral reef monitoring work at the Institute of Oceanography, to improve research capacity and sustainable management of coral reef ecosystems in Vietnam.

Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, donates research equipment to Institute of Oceanography

Souvenir photograph

Translated by Quoc Khanh
Link to Vietnamese version

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