Hereon takes on a leadership role in the ocean program DITTO
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, as one of four institutions, is now taking on a leading role in the new governance and coordination structure of the Digital Twins of the Ocean (DITTO) program as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The other three institutions are the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Xiamen University in China, and Mercator Ocean International from France. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO has officially approved the new governance structure and extended DITTO’s period of recognition through 2030.
DITTO is a global program of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and aims to develop Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTOs). DTOs integrate observational and satellite data, numerical models, high-performance computers, and artificial intelligence into dynamic digital representations of marine systems. They help to better understand and predict changes in the ocean, explore various “what-if” scenarios, and make scientific findings immediately available for decisions regarding the protection and sustainable use of the oceans.
Strengthening collaboration
The new international co-leadership will further strengthen scientific and strategic collaboration within DITTO. The four partner institutions are pooling their expertise to promote common standards, interoperable digital infrastructures, and reusable workflows. This is intended to make DTOs more accessible worldwide and usable across different regions and application areas.
Technologies for ocean protection
The extension of DITTO through 2030 underscores the growing importance of digital technologies for the protection and sustainable use of the oceans. By pooling scientific expertise from Europe and Asia, the program aims to make a significant contribution to the research and management of marine systems worldwide.
“For Hereon, this new role means even greater involvement in the international strategic coordination of research activities on digital ocean models, interoperable data and information systems, and forecasting systems,” says Dr. Joanna Staneva from the Hereon Institute of Coastal Systems – Analysis and Modeling. She is one of DITTO’s four co-chairs and represents Hereon on the program’s new international co-leadership team. “Together with the partner institutions, our center will shape the strategic development of the program and the implementation of the next work programs.”
Cutting-edge research for a changing world
The aim of the research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon is to preserve a world worth living in. To this end, approximately 1,000 staff members generate knowledge and explore new technologies to enhance resilience and sustainability – for the benefit of the climate, the coast and people. The path from idea to innovation involves a continuous interplay between experimental studies, modelling and artificial intelligence, culminating in digital twins that replicate the myriad parameters of climate and coastal environments or human biology within a computer. This takes an interdisciplinary approach, bridging the gap between a fundamental scientific understanding of complex systems and practical applications and real-world scenarios. As an active member of national and international research networks and the Helmholtz Association, Hereon supports policymakers, industry and society in shaping a sustainable future by sharing the expertise it has gained.
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Dr. Joanna Staneva
Co-chair of DITTO
Hereon Institute of Coastal Systems – Analysis and Modeling
Phone: +49 (0)4152 87-1804
email: joanna.staneva@hereon.de
Weitere Informationen:
https://hereon.de/communication_media/news/121652/index.php.en
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