ZMT scientist Dr Estradivari to bring global perspective to EU discussion on the future of marine research
How can marine science better serve society and strengthen the resilience of coastal regions by 2035? This question will be at the heart of the discussion evening "Horizon 2035 – Advancing Marine Science for Society and the Resilience of Coastal Regions" on 2 July 2026 at the Representation of Lower Saxany to the European Union in Brussels.
Organised by the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) and the Representation of Lower Saxony, the event will bring together scientists, policymakers and stakeholders to discuss how marine research can better serve society and coastal communities in the years ahead.
Representing the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Dr Estradivari will contribute perspectives from tropical marine conservation and ocean governance, drawing on extensive experience working in the Indonesian Coral Triangle.
The moderated discussion, chaired by James Morrison (Director for Healthy Planet at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation), will bring together experts from leading German marine research institutions and public authorities.
Alongside Dr Estradivari, the panel includes Bronwyn Cahill (Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research), Helmke Hepach (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research), Sabine Horn (Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research), Katrin Kleemann (German Maritime Museum), Dennis Oberrecht (Lower Saxony Department for Water, Coastal and Nature Conservation), Lucas Porz (Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon) and Christian Windt (Technical University of Braunschweig).
Looking ahead to 2035, Dr Estradivari argues that the success of marine research should be measured not only by scientific output, but by its tangible benefits for people and nature.
She says: “It is easy to focus on producing more data and more reports. I would rather we discuss what coastal communities genuinely expect from us, as researchers, by 2035: healthier reefs and fisheries, fair rules, and a real voice in decisions.”
The ZMT scientist emphasises that reimagining marine research means changing not only what science investigates, but also how it is funded and conducted.
“Success in 2035 is not measured only by how much we know, but by a shift in how we fund, partner, and work, so that initiatives such as the EU Ocean Pact and the future Ocean Act support science that is co-designed with communities, grounded in local realities, and accountable for real outcomes for both people and the sea,” she argues.
Dr Estradivari also hopes to bring lessons from the Coral Triangle into the European debate, highlighting the value of international exchange: “The ocean does not stop at borders. If the Ocean Pact and the Ocean Act are to serve both people and the sea, the strongest answers will emerge when we learn across regions, rather than within a single one.”
The evening will start with opening remarks by Melanie Walter (Minister for Europe and Regional Development of Lower Saxony), followed by addresses from Keywords James Morrison and Torsten Schlurmann (DAM Executive Board, the Ludwig Franzius Institute of Hydraulic, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover) who is also a member of ZMT’s scientific advisory board.
The Brussels event comes at a pivotal moment as it is taking place against the backdrop of the new EU Ocean Pact, the ongoing budget negotiations for the next EU research framework programme, and complex societal, environmental and geopolitical challenges – with the aim of shaping European marine research policy for the coming decade.
Participation in the event reflects ZMT's commitment to contributing scientific expertise from tropical coastal regions to international policy discussions and strengthening dialogue between science, policymakers and coastal communities worldwide.
„Horizon 2035 – Advancing Marine Science for Society and the Resilience of Coastal Regions“
When Thursday, 2 July 2026, from 18:00 to 21:00
Where: Representation of Lower Saxony to the European Union, Rue Montoyer 61, Brussels.
Following the discussion, participants are invited to continue the exchange during a networking reception.
Further information on the programme and registration is available via the official event page.
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