INSTITUUT VOOR ZEEWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK (IZWO)

The INSTITUTE FOR MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (IZWO) is an independent, non-profit organization, established in 1970, upon a proposal of a group of professors from the various Flemish universities, working in marine sciences. The Institute was created thanks to the support of the Government of the Province of the West-Flanders (boarding the North Sea), the Francqui Foundation, and the Belgian National Science Foundation.

The association counts approximately 140 members, mainly scientists, working in oceanography and marine sciences, at the various Flemish universities and governmental departments.

The President of IZWO is the Governor of the Province of the West-Flanders, one of the founders of the association, who presides the annual General Member Assembly and takes a keen interest in the activities of the Institute. The management of the Institute is taken care of by the Board of Directors, presided by a member of the Permanent Deputation of the Province of the West-Flanders. The Board consists of representatives of the six Flemish universities, governmental scientific institutions, the Belgian National Science Foundation, regional authorities, and industry, all involved in marine sciences.

Thanks to the diversity of practiced disciplines (biology, ecology, chemistry, physics, geology, and applied marine research such as aquaculture and pollution), by the IZWO members, the Institute constitutes a multidisciplinary forum for cooperation, coordination, planning and execution of marine projects.

Annually, the results of the scientific investigations of the IZWO-members are bundled in the 'IZWO COLLECTED REPRINTS'. This publication is exchanged worldwide with the publications of marine centers in all continents. As such, Flemish marine research is made available to the internal community and acquisitions to the IZWO marine scientific 'Halewyck' library can be sustained. This library is the largest in Belgium and serves the scientists as well as the interested public at large. Any new proposals for exchange of publications are welcomed. Contacts between IZWO members are realized by publication of the 'IZWO NEWSLETTER', published in Dutch.

Next to the dissemination of publications, IZWO has established international contacts with marine centers worldwide by organizing scientific meetings, ranging from workshops on a specific topic, to large internationally attended symposia, devoted to all disciplines of marine sciences.

The Scientific Committee consists of delegates of all the scientific research groups and is responsible for all science-related matters and policies.

Thanks to the moral and financial support of the Province of the West-Flanders, IZWO can be maintained as a marine center for all who are involved in oceanography and closely related fields.