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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Developing Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Talent for addressing Ocean challenges - Data Science for Social Good Program

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    Description
    Description
    Ocean data is expected to rapidly expand in the upcoming decade, driven by the proliferation of sources such as IoT sensors, satellite images and crowdsourced data. This influx of new data could magnify the opportunities for machine learning and artificial intelligence applications for oceans conservation and management. These opportunities could be crucial to give Governments, the UN, the scientific community, businesses and NGOs the tools to understand and predict what is happening to our oceans: not just stop the harm but restore ocean health.

    As an example, new technologies around traceability in the seafood supply chain could offer powerful new techniques to address illegal fishing and ensure growth can be sustainable. Technologies such as lower cost satellite tracking, unmanned vessels, lower cost sensors, big data, blockchain, can help automate and remotely monitor fishing and fisheries, making it easier to regulate against illegal activities.

    These opportunities could be hampered by lack of talent that combines competences on machine learning and AI, deep domain expertise and practical exposure to the issues and challenges of oceans data. The project focuses on developing talent on data analytics, machine learning and A.I. for ocean applications and management. The first area of interest will be illegal fishing and will be part of the Data Science for Social Good Europe program of 2017.

    The Data Science for Social Good model provides a platform to grow talent for data science, machine learning and AI. on problems that have a social impact. Participants, selected from Universities globally, work with a team of mentors and domain experts for three months, developing tangible demonstrators, trial products and methods. They learn, hone, and apply their data science, analytical, and coding skills, collaborate in a fast-paced atmosphere, and learn from experts coming from industry and academia. Above all they shape their competences on real, practical problems that matter.

    The project results are public and all material, code, methods is made available as open source to contribute to the ongoing efforts of NGO, Universities and International Organizations.
    Partners
    Data Science for Social Good - Europe (Academic Institution), University of Salzburg Austria (Academic Institution)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    Launch of continuous training and talent development platform for ocean scientists, managers and thought leaders dedicated to machine learning and A.I.
    Second program to train young promising data scientists on the use of machine learning and AI to address Oceans problems.
    First program to train young promising data scientists on the use of machine learning and AI to address Oceans problems. Initial focus on vessel identification and illegal fishing.
    In-kind contribution
    Equivalent of 200K of training and consulting resources dedicated to addressing the problem of illegal fishing, and in general ocean management, through Machine Learning and AI, per year.
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Technical expertise, Machine learning and AI coaching.
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 June 2017 (start date)
    01 December 2018 (date of completion)
    Entity
    CS Research Foundation
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Amsterdam, NL
    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Euro Beinat, Dr. Prof.