Aspiring to maximize the benefits from their joint training programmes and to strengthen the network among its trainees, in 2010 the Nippon Foundation (NF) and the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) developed the NF-POGO Network of Alumni for the Oceans (NANO). In the last 4.5 years NANO has grown rapidly and currently comprises 184 members from 44 countries on five continents. About 70% of all NF-POGO trainees have become members of NANO. As motivated researchers in early career stages, NANO alumni are held together by a common interest in, and commitment to, ocean science, and by the common will to communicate the results of their work to the general public. The network also collaborates with ~50 distinguished ocean scientists, known as NANO friends, who provide advice and share their experience with the alumni. One of the main objectives of the network is to promote collaborative work between NANO alumni to address societally-relevant issues impacting their coasts (e.g. water quality, harmful algal blooms, coastal erosion). To achieve this goal four regional research projects were established in 2012 in Latin America, North-West Africa, South-East Asia and Indian Subcontinent, and a new one in the Caribbean has just been launched. In addition, a NANO outreach programme was established by alumni who are enthusiastic about advocating for ocean sciences. Modest grants have been awarded to 5 alumni to perform educational activities aiming to improve public awareness of marine issues . NANO also maintains a website (http://www.nf-pogo-alumni.org) and produces a biannual newsletter with updates on the Network’s activities and professional achievements of the alumni. Rapid progress and successful accomplishment of NANO initiatives are evidence that NANO work is highly relevant for the benefit of the blue planet and society-at-large.

1. Nippon Foundation - POGO Alumni
Network for Oceans (NANO)
Olga Shatova
Lilian Krug
Sophie Seeyave
Victoria Cheung
Blue Planet Symposium, Cairns
27th May 2015
http://www.nf-pogo-alumni.org
http://www.ocean-partners.org

2. http://www.ocean-partners.org/
Partnership for Observation of the
Global Oceans – POGO (1999)
• Promoting cooperation in oceanographic
observing and Earth system science for the
benefit of society
• Promoting global oceanography, capacity
building and public outreach
Nippon Foundation – NF (1962)
• Giving individuals the capacity to change
society
• Working to protect the oceans and keep the
seas safe
http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/en/
Nippon Foundation and POGO

3. Why an Alumni Network?
The Nippon Foundation, through its partnership with POGO, has provided professional
training in observational oceanography to around 320 young scientists from around the
world (mostly developing countries), since 2005.
To maximize the benefits to the alumni from the training received
The NF-POGO Alumni Network for Oceans
(NANO)
was formed in 2010

4. 
to maximize the benefits to the alumni from the training;

to facilitate active contacts among alumni and with the faculty;

to promote joint research activities that will build on the training.
NANO goals
NF-POGO alumni are the future leaders in their field and
collectively, they can tackle the issues facing oceans and
society today and in the future.

5. NANO: how it works?
Network structure

Alumni members -organised by region, by the training program and by the
area of expertise

Organizers

NANO friends

NANO coordinators

Website

Newsletter

Annual coordination meetings
First meeting - London 2010
Most recent meeting- Lisbon 2014

6. 1. Visiting Professorship
(2004-2007)
India Fiji Sri Lanka Brazil Vietnam Tunisia

NANO alumni - former trainees of the NF-POGO educational programmes
2. Centre of Excellence in Observational Oceanography
(2008-present)
Bermuda Germany
3. Regional Centre of Excellence (2011-
present) Brazil India Vietnam Philippines Mexico
NANO Alumni

7. Alumni in numbers

220 alumni members ~ 70% of NF-POGO scholars

46 countries – 5 continents

8. 55% are 35 or younger
Ratio by gender
Alumni in numbers

9. 1/3 have PhD degree, another 1/3 is
pursuing it
Main research interests
Alumni in numbers

10. 
Since 2012

Managed by POGO Secretariat

Budget 25K - 30K USD/year
Criteria:

Observational focus (not
“blue skies” research)

Societal benefit focus

Add value to existing
programmes/projects
Joint activities: Regional research projects
N-W Africa group planning the deployment of a tide gauge in
Ivory Coast (Houssem Smati)
Latin America project sampling in Colombia (Guillermina Ruiz)
Sampling in Philippines (Photo Joseph
Palermo)

11. 1. Latin America: Pigment analysis using HPLC in ANTARES
Network coastal time series stations
4. South-East Asia: Eutrophication in the coastal regions of
South-East Asia
3. Indian sub-Continent: Monitoring of HAB species in the
coastal waters of India and Sri Lanka
2. North-West Africa: Nearshore hydrodynamics (erosion)
Joint activities: Regional research projects
5. Caribbean: Striking a balance with the
lionfish: Habitat Suitability Modeling and
Social awareness measures in the Southern
Caribbean

12. Joint activities: Outreach
Support for active engaging initiatives in increasing general public awareness of marine
issues
Started in 2014 and calling for proposals twice a year
Online catalogueMarine Open Day at Shandong University, China
(Coordinated by alumnus Chunli Liu)
Education and Prospects for Sandwip Island, Bangladesh
(Coordinated by alumnus Mohammad M Uddin)

13. Other NANO developments
NANO NEWS
Bioannual Newsletter
Calendar
Various competitions
@NANO4Oceans
Nano Nfpogo
Social networks

14. Young, motivated scientists
Partners from trainings
Committed to marine sciences
Raising awareness for ocean protection
More information at nf-pogo-alumni.org or olga.shatova@nf-pogo-alumni.org