Cosimo Solidoro is the new President of the Italian Oceanographic Commission

Cosimo Solidoro was unanimously elected President of the Italian Oceanographic Commission (COI), succeeding Rosalia Santoleri. He will remain in office until 2029.

The COI is the national coordinating body for Italian activities at UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and represents Italy in the wider framework of international cooperation in the marine sector.
For the first time, the presidency of the COI will be given to a representative of the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS): an appointment that represents a significant recognition of the Institute's scientific expertise and its central role in marine research and management. The choice of Cosimo Solidoro is also an important sign of confidence in his experience and strategic vision, at a crucial time for the future of ocean governance with the ongoing UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), which calls on all Member States to strengthen the role of ocean science in addressing the grand challenges of our time.

The most important Italian research organisations in the field of marine research are members of the COI – CNR, ENEA, INGV, ISPRA, OGS, SZN, CMCC, the inter-university consortium CoNISMa, the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy (IIM), the Ministry of Civil Protection (DPC) – and representatives of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the ministries responsible for the sea also take part in the meetings, these include the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (MASAF), the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).