Future Earth – Future Ocean: Why should we be interested in integrated sciences?

Prof Martin Visbeck, GEOMAR | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel

Abstract: A rapidly rising population with an increasing need for resources will provide an enormous challenge to the future development of the human society. The Ocean will be used as an example for a part of the Earth system that is providing crucial services to society.

To develop and evaluate sustainable development pathways, an integrated systems understanding seems most promising. This challenge is very specific but also very large and cannot be addressed by a single discipline, by a single university or country. Integrated research frames, such as offered by the Kiel based Future Ocean network or the new international Future Earth research platform provide an inspiring and potentially helpful research environment to enable the best upstream research to inform and interact with stakeholders, decision makers and the public at large.