Ridge Seminar Series: “Challenger 150 – A Decade to study deep-sea life“

Dr. Ana Hilário (www – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Dep. Biologia, Univ. de Aveiro, Portugal).

Deep-sea scientists have launched a new initiative called “Challenger 150”. Challenger 150 is a global cooperative that brings together deep-sea researchers to coordinate sampling, monitoring and capacity building efforts. At its heart is a global-scale field programme, designed as a jigsaw puzzle, to which different projects contribute the pieces. Coupled to this is the development of deep-ocean expertise, particularly in economically-developing nations, to build a new generation of stewards working together to deliver the science to support sustainable management of deep-ocean ecosystems. Challenger 150 aims to advance understanding of the diversity, distribution and function of deep-ocean biota and the services they provide; developing and employing new technologies to expand the art of the possible. The knowledge created by Challenger 150 will educate, inspire, and inform better management and sustainable use of the deep ocean.