Scientific Themes

Seven themes at the forefront of aquatic research

The scientific themes of MIWRS 2027 reflect the breadth and interdisciplinarity of contemporary research on marine and inland waters, covering environmental change, biodiversity, pollution, living resources, governance, technology, innovation, and marine geohazards.

01. Climate Change & Global Environmental Change
02. Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Conservation
03. Pollution, Water Quality & Biogeochemistry
04. Biological Invasions & Living Resources

05. Governance, Policy, Technology & Innovation
06. Interdisciplinary & Cross-cutting Themes
07. Geological Processes & Hazards beneath the Sea

Scientific Themes

Theme 01	01. Climate Change & Global Environmental Change Climate impacts on marine and freshwater systems Ocean acidification and warming Alterations in the hydrological cycle and extreme events Sea-level rise and coastal vulnerability Adaptation, mitigation, and resilience strategies Physical oceanography and hydrodynamics
Theme 02	02. Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Conservation Marine and freshwater biodiversity Ecosystem functioning and trophic dynamics Coastal, estuarine, and wetland ecosystems Habitat degradation and ecological restoration Protected areas and conservation strategies Deep-sea and offshore ecosystems
Theme 03	03. Pollution, Water Quality & Biogeochemistry Marine and freshwater pollution Microplastics and emerging contaminants Heavy metals and persistent pollutants Pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants Nutrient dynamics and eutrophication Sediment quality and biogeochemical cycles Water monitoring and assessment methodologies
Theme 04	04. Biological Invasions & Living Resources Non-indigenous species and invasion ecology Fisheries science and stock assessment Bycatch and species conservation Sustainable aquaculture Blue economy and living marine resources Ecosystem-based management of living resources Species conservation and biodiversity loss
Theme 05	05. Governance, Policy, Technology & Innovation Marine policy and environmental governance Marine robotics and autonomous systems Integrated coastal zone management Marine spatial planning Remote sensing and Earth observation Environmental DNA applications and molecular tools AI and data science in aquatic research Citizen science and stakeholder engagement Transboundary water management Monitoring technologies and smart sensors
Theme 06	06. Interdisciplinary & Cross-cutting Themes One Health and aquatic systems Nature-based solutions Ecosystem services valuation Socio-ecological systems Risk assessment and environmental impact
Theme 07	07. Geological Processes & Hazards beneath the Sea Seafloor geomorphology Coastal zone dynamics Sediments as archives of past and present environmental change Active tectonics and marine geohazards