12th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference & 3rd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference
“From Knowledge to Action: Connecting Science, Policy, and Society for a Resilient Western Pacific”
Manila, the Philippines, 20–23 April 2027
First Announcement
Call for Proposals for Scientific Sessions,
Decade Action Incubators & Decade Action Workshops
The Government of the Philippines and the UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), together with a wide range of international and national partners, are pleased to announce that the 12th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference & the 3rd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference will be held in Manila, the Philippines, on 20–23 April 2027.
We cordially invite interested Member States, government agencies, institutions, and stakeholders to develop and submit proposals for Scientific Sessions, Decade Action Incubators, and Decade Action Workshops. Please refer to the detailed guidelines below.
Background
Covering 70% of our planet, the ocean is central to human well-being, as it sustains life, connects communities, and supports global development.
The ocean, seas, and coasts of the Western Pacific hold exceptional ecological, social, and economic value. As one of the Earth’s major heat engines, the region influences global climate and ocean circulation. It also harbors the world’s highest abundance and diversity of marine life, sustaining livelihoods, food security, and economic growth across the region and far beyond.
For the hundreds of millions who rely on the ocean for food, jobs, safety, and prosperity, a healthy and resilient Western Pacific is not optional – it is essential. Safeguarding our ocean health and securing a sustainable future requires lasting, collaborative, science-based, and innovative actions.
Since its inception, the UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) has convened a triennial International Scientific Symposium[2] to advance ocean science, foster multi- and cross-disciplinary collaboration, and generate ocean knowledge for informed policy and management. Since 1986, a total of eleven International Scientific Symposia (now known as the International Marine Science Conference) have been organized, hosted on a rotational basis by Member States in the region.
To support the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the Sub-Commission convened the UN Ocean Decade Regional Kick-off Conference for the Western Pacific and its adjacent areas (online, 25–26 November 2021) and the 2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference, held in conjunction with the 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference (22–25 April 2024, Bangkok, Thailand), generously hosted by the Government of Thailand through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and its Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
Conference Objectives
The Conference seeks to bring together a wide range of ocean stakeholders, including governments, research communities and academia, the private and business sector, philanthropic foundations, UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society to:
- Present the latest developments in ocean science, knowledge, and innovations;
- Showcase and track achievements of UN Ocean Decade Actions in the region;
- Catalyze partnerships and concrete actions for transformative science-based solutions to sustainability challenges in the Western Pacific.
For more details and to register, please visit the information page
https://ioc-westpac.org/event/imsc12/
(IOC WESTPAC)
