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Page 1 of 4 National Directorate Oceanography (NOD)
The National Oceanography Directorate (NOD) was established in November 2000 under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) of Malaysia. It is a division within the Ministry with 20 permanent staff including 6 technical officers. The Directorate serves as the national focal point for all oceanographic and marine science activities, and provides leadership and policies in marine scientific research and development (R&D) undertaken within Malaysian waters. As a small Division, the main function of the Directorate is to coordinate the use of existing human and physical resources, coordinate and monitor research in priority areas and facilitate implementation of national and intergovernmental programmes pertaining to marine science and oceanographic R&D. NOD also facilitates access to research facilities and research fundings, and it organizes marine expeditions, seminars, workshops and conferences. In MOSTI, NOD falls under the Sea-to-Space cluster together with National Space Agency, Malaysia Remote Sensing Agency and Malaysian Meteorological Department.
NOD has very strong relation with many established oceanography and marine science centres of excellence (CoEs) located within the local universities. These CoEs are the main recipients of NOD research grants where research in all oceanography disciplines are focused, thus the CoEs are the research arms of NOD. NOD priority research areas are in marine sciences, particularly ocean and coastal dynamics, ocean-atmosphere interactions, and underwater instrumentation and marine innovations.
Over the years, there has been a substantial growth in oceanography and marine science related R&D activities and programs and thus gave rise to a significant number of Malaysian experts in specific fields within the oceanography and marine science disciplines. At this moment, the country is well-prepared and capable to spearhead collaborations with other leading experts and institutions around the world to spearhead new innovations and discoveries for a more sustainable and improved research output and quality in all oceanography disciplines.
Under NOD, Malaysia has been reelected to the Executive Council of Inter-Governmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) under UNESCO and as Second–Vice-Chairman of IOC-WESTPAC). NOD is also the Malaysian representative in ASEAN- COST for Sub-Committee on Marine Science and Technology (SCMSAT). For the Coral Triangle Initiatives - Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF), NOD is functioning as the national secretariat for to coordinate all CTI activities in Malaysia.
At the moment NOD has cooperation agreement in marine science and technology with State Oceanic Administration- SOA, People’s Republic of China. Through this agreement Malaysian scientists have research collaborations with their Chinese counter parts in Oceanographic Institutes under SOA.
Under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) NOD is proposing to the Government to establish a National Institute of Oceanography for Malaysia.
NOD contact details
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI),
Level 6, Block C4, Complex C,
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62662 Putrajaya, Malaysia
No. Phone: +603-8885 8201
No. Fax : +603-8889 3008
Website : www.mosti.gov.my
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