The International Council for Science (ICSU) formed the Special Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) in 1957 to help address interdisciplinary science questions related to the ocean. SCOR was the first interdisciplinary body formed by ICSU. SCOR’s name was later changed to “Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research” to reflect its more permanent status.
SCOR activities focus on promoting international cooperation in planning and conducting oceanographic research, and solving methodological and conceptual problems that hinder research. SCOR covers all areas of ocean science and cooperates with other organizations with common interests to conduct many SCOR activities. SCOR also conducts several different activities to build the capacity for ocean science in developing countries and every SCOR activity includes members from developing countries.
POGO has always enjoyed good working relations with SCOR and collaborated on many joint programmes, including the POGO-SCOR Visiting Fellowship programme and general assessment of capacity development needs and priorities, as well as the evaluation of joint and respective training programmes. POGO co-sponsors the International Quiet Ocean Experiment, together with SCOR, and supports a number of other SCOR programmes, such as the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) and the Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) –see below.