IAMRI Working Meeting

13 July 2005 – University of Western Bretagne

Venue – Conference Hall (8 th Floor)

Seven universities from around the world agreed yesterday to establish the International Association of Marine-Related Institutions (IAMRI) at a meeting in Brest in France.

JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Bernard Moulden, who attended the meeting, said today that IAMRI was a uniquely powerful group, which would promote global collaboration in education and research in marine sciences.

The other six institutions in the foundation group are Bremen University (Germany), Ocean University of China, Pukyong National University (Korea), Tokyo University of Marine Sciences and Technology (Japan), University of Southampton (UK) and the University of Western Brittany (France).

Speaking from Brest, Professor Moulden said that the new global alliance would lead to richer international opportunities for students and staff and provide access to laboratories and facilities such as research vessels that otherwise would not be available.

"I am delighted that James Cook University is the Australian founding partner with membership of the Administrative Board of IAMRI," Professor Moulden said. "Membership, especially foundation membership of global networks such as IAMRI is essential to promote and enhance our reputation overseas.

"We shall now be inviting other eminent marine-related institutions in Australia and internationally to join as scientific members."

The Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Dr Ian Poiner said that the new association was an excellent idea.

"International networks are a very important facet of marine research," Dr Poiner said. "I'll be talking to Professor Moulden about how AIMS will be involved."

The Chief Executive Officer of CRC Reef, Dr Russell Reichelt, said that forging new and formal links between marine research institutions would provide great benefits to world research.

"I am keen for CRC Reef to support this association and I look forward to working with Professor Moulden on his return to Australia," Dr Reichelt said.

The idea for IAMRI had its beginnings when Professor Moulden was a guest of honour at the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Ocean University in China late last year

The Vice President of the Ocean University of China, Professor Lin Wang, who visited JCU at the beginning of last year, was the initiator of the agreement that reached fruition at the meeting at the University of Western Brittany in Brest this week.

Speaking from Brest, Professor Wang said that Professor Moulden's diplomatic and linguistic skills had been a critical factor in this week's successful agreement to form the association.

"If Professor Moulden had not been present we might not have been able to reach the consensus that is at the heart of this alliance," she said.

The first president of the association will be Professor Guan Huashi of Ocean University of China and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

The first meeting of the Administrative Board is expected to be held in October in Qingdao, China.