Delegation from BAS participates in the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

The 33rd Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO took place from 25 June to 3 July 2025 at the UNESCO building in Paris. The Bulgarian delegation to the Assembly included: Prof. Valentina Todorova – Director of the Institute of Oceanology at BAS, Prof. Atanas Palazov – Chairman of the National Oceanographic Commission and Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Valchev – Vice-Chairman of the IOC.

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) promotes international cooperation in marine science to improve the management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. IOC enables its 152 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes on capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science, tsunami warning and ocean literacy. IOC’s work contributes to UNESCO’s mission to promote the development of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity that are key to economic and social progress and the basis for peace and sustainable development. UNESCO-IOC is the organization responsible for coordinating the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (the Ocean Decade).

The Bulgarian delegation at the 33rd UNESCO-IOC Assembly

The Bulgarian delegation took part in the work of the Assembly on all issues of interest for Bulgarian marine science with the exclusive assistance of Ms Iskra Angelova, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to UNESCO.

IOC Chairperson Prof. Yutaka Michida presents a commemorative medal to Prof. Palazov

Contacts were made with IOC Chairperson Prof. Yutaka Michida, the representatives of the delegations of Poland, Turkey, Greece, Belgium, Russia and Japan, and opportunities for joint work and international research expeditions were discussed.

During Ocean Science Day which is celebrated on 30 June, discussions were held on key global ocean environmental issues and approaches to address them. Prof. Palazov was awarded the N.K. Panikkar medal for his services to the development of operational oceanography in the Black Sea and delivered a commemorative lecture on ” Building Capacity towards Operational Oceanography in the Black Sea”.

In recognition of Bulgaria’s role in global international cooperation in ocean research, international marine policy making and the development of oceanographic research in the Black Sea, Bulgaria was elected as a member of the IOC Executive Council and Prof. Palazov was elected Vice-Chairman of IOC.