Our mission leads the way for sustainable futures of oceanic research as a flagship sustainability project, aimed at zero carbon and acoustic emissions. We will be undertaking science under sail using traditional sailing vessels in remote regions (especially in the South Pacific and other Small Island Developing States). Our objectives include discovery science and capacity building in climate-vulnerable regions, with a particular focus on gender balance and multi-stakeholder collaboration. We employ seven of the UN SDGs as our operational framework (SDG 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14 & 17).

Based in Ballina-Byron we will operate globally in under-researched and climate sensitive areas (e.g. melting glaciers in Arctic East Greenland, Pacific Islands threatened with inundation, carbon-capture seaweed and kelp). ORI’s Research Committee of leading international scientists focus on the impacts of climate change on oceanic and coastal environments through global collaborative research across three themes: clean energy, healthy oceans, sustainable operations. Read more about our planned Research Expeditions here. https://oceanicresearchinstitute.org/expeditions-3/ ORI is the world’s first oceanic research organisation to use 100% renewable energy generated on board traditional wooden sailing vessels. Our Research Expedition Vessels (REV) with zero carbon emissions will lead the way for fully sustainable futures of ocean science, and marine conservation. We will also have zero acoustic emissions - a vital scientific innovation for safe research with whales, dolphins and other marine mammals, vulnerable to acoustic trauma. We intend to operate in the South Pacific with the support and collaboration of the South Pacific Community and other stakeholders. ORI is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and we will be active participants in the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) - to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health.

There are very few opportunities for young marine science students to gain research experience at sea. There are not enough research vessels or funding. On our oceanic science expeditions, we will partner each international scientist on board with an Australian or South Pacific Higher Degree Research (HDR) student or Postdoc. ORI will provide young scientists with the action experience and mentoring they desperately need to advance their careers. This will help increase research capacity and knowledge transfer. We aim to achieve this with private funding. With this valuable field experience, we believe that young researchers will find equally valuable opportunities to develop their careers with exchange placements among our international partners. This will enhance the potential for future scientific collaboration in response to climate change. As rapidly unfolding climate emergency brings increased complexity and uncertainty to our lives, it will also bring an increasing need for better community leadership. That challenge will fall to young people, now in their secondary school years, who will become tomorrow’s leaders. ORI has a role to play by helping young minds focus on the clear realities of climate change. ORI Youth Council: As Stage 1 of our proposed student engagement program, ORI will form a Youth Council tasked with enrolling 10,000 students as supporters of Oceanic Research Institute through social media, PR and key influencers. By their being excited by science and encouraged to choose STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Studies), Australia generally will gain better science literacy. We aim to ensure the future of Ocean care by inspiring young Australian and Pacific Island secondary students through Accelerated Ocean Literacy. We want them to be involved in planning expedition research, communicating our results and educating others across the world. Multilingual Cohort: Stage 2 would involve expanding this youth engagement across the globe, led by bi-lingual advocates working within the great language diasporas – Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, Russian, Arabic and French. We want teenagers to be inspired and empowered to follow our field expeditions, communicate with our teams, and help identify exciting new research projects. This will be a ten-year project to coincide with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

ORI is a Registered Australian Charity and Australia's only independent, Approved Research Institute for ocean science. We are governed by a Board of Directors, and also have a CEO and Director of Research, a Research Committee of high-level international scientists, and an International Advisory Panel. We have pro bono and volunteer support for many of our professional services. We are seeking funds from philanthropists and foundations. Our academic affiliations include: - Southern Cross University Marine Ecology Research Centre, NSW, where ORI Co-Founders both hold Adjunct Faculty positions. - Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB), University of Catalonia, Spain, where ORI Co-Founders are both Fellows of LAB. Our international working partnerships include: - NASA: Oceans Melting Greenland Program, JPL, Pasadena, California. ORI is a field research partner providing NASA with Arctic field research facilities in East Greenland. - James Michel Foundation (JMF), Seychelles. ORI is an international partner of JMF. In addition, former President James Alix Michel is a member of ORI’s International Advisory Panel - Mission Blue Sylvia Earle Alliance, California. ORI is an official Alliance Partner

Oceanic Research Institute