The Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) was founded in 1999 by directors of oceanographic institutions around the world as a forum to promote and advance the observation of the global ocean. POGO is a UK-registered charity with member institutions from around the world, and works closely with other international and regional programmes and organisations.
POGO seeks to expand international support for ocean observing, through innovation of the ocean observing system, capacity development and outreach/advocacy.
Since its formation in 1999, POGO has held Annual Meetings, bringing together the directors and leaders of oceanographic institutions from around the world to discuss the progress made and challenges ahead for global ocean observing.
However, our Members recognise that the international landscape, as well as the institutions, have evolved over the last 25 years. In order to build on POGO’s core strength of inclusivity, in Sept 2024, the members voted to divide our Meetings into a more general and open “Science Meeting” (every 2 years), and a more focused, shorter “Directors’ Meeting” (every year, in combination with a major international event, or in a strategic location). It is anticipated that the outcomes of the Science Meeting will feed into the Directors’ Meeting, and vice versa.
The first Directors’ Meeting took place between the OOSC and UNOC meetings in Nice, France, on Saturday 7 June, 2025.
Instituto Español de Oceanografía welcomed POGO Members onboard their new research vessel, Odón de Buen, following the POGO Directors’ Meeting in Nice on 7 June. [Image credit: IEO]
36 of POGO’s 55 Member institutes were represented in person (65%), hailing from countries in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia.
The meeting agenda included discussions on the following topics:
Towards net zero ocean observing – (how) can we achieve this?
New collaborations for low-cost technology development
POGO’s role in influencing policy, from national to global scale
POGO’s role in fostering, promoting and adopting emerging technologies
Infrastructure challenges in the Global South – how do we support ocean observing beyond the training?
Addressing the funding challenges facing the global ocean observing system: new funding models, sources and/or international partnerships?
Outputs from the POGO Town Hall session at OOSCalso fed into several of the breakout sessions, bringing depth to the discussion with ideas and suggestions from the wider ocean observing community.
![Instituto Español de Oceanografía welcomed POGO Members onboard their new research vessel, Odón de Buen, following the POGO Directors' Meeting in Nice on 7 June. [Image credit: IEO]](https://pogo-ocean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IEO-Reception-Group_POGO-1030x687.jpg)