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.
Dr. Adam Leadbetter is an environmental data manager with twenty years of experience in both public and private sectors emphasising the importance of high-quality infrastructure for data to support scientific research, government policy and the development of lower environmental impact business. He has worked on data strategy design and implementation; quality management frameworks for data management activities; greenhouse gas inventory modelling and product carbon footprints; vocabulary development for improved data description and connectivity; and led the development of standards for describing Marine Spatial Plans. Adam has co-ordinated the Irish Spatial Data Exchange and been a member of the Steering Groups of the IOC-GOOS Ocean Best Practices project and the IOC-IODE International Coastal Atlas Network and is a member of the EU’s Technical Experts Group on data for Marine Spatial Planning. He has a BSc in Oceanography with Chemistry from the University of Liverpool and a PhD in modelling coastal marine sediment transport from the University of East Anglia.
Adam is also a Chartered Marine Scientist with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology where he has also completed the recognised speaker programme and is a committee member of the Maritime History Special Interest Group.
For Seascape Belgium, Adam is taking on the role of Lead Manager for the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing (DCO-ODS) within the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.