The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) is a network of European organisations working together to observe the oceans, to make the collected marine data freely available and interoperable, to create seamless data layers across sea-basins and to distribute the data and data products through the Internet. The primary aim of EMODnet is to unlock existing but fragmented and hidden marine data and make them accessible for a wide range of users including private bodies, public authorities and researchers.
Vicente Fernández holds a PhD in Physical Oceanography (2004) by the University of Balearic Islands, Spain, and a Master in Environmental Engineering and Management (2014) by the EOI business school in Madrid, Spain. He has over 15 years of experience working in multiple roles related to marine research, operational oceanography, marine knowledge value chain and scientific coordination. Vicente worked as a researcher in public research institutions in Spain (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB) and Italy (National institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology, INGV) and in the Spanish Harbors Authority operational agency. He has been involved in several projects related to ocean numerical modeling and forecast and marine in situ and satellite data analysis. After that, he worked in the private sector (Qualitas Instruments Ltd, Spain) as responsible in projects supporting the coordination and use of High-Frequency Radar coastal ocean observing technology. He has also worked as a marine data consultant supporting environmental impact assessment of offshore and coastal projects and activities that require marine data information and knowledge. Since 2015 to 2023 he worked as a Science Officer at the European Global Ocean Observing System (EuroGOOS) Secretariat in Belgium, where he was heavily involved in European and international collaborative projects and initiatives related with coordination and sustainability of ocean observations at European level, marine data management, user and stakeholder engagement and definition of in situ data requirements and observing gaps for the improvement of operational downstream marine products and services supporting science, policy and society in the different European Sea Basins.
Vicente joined Seascape Belgium in June 2023 as Science Officer for European and Global Project for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).