The Ninth ODC training course on climate dynamics and air-sea interactions will be held in Qingdao during 17-28 June 2019
Introduction

The UNESCO/IOC Regional Training and Research Center on Ocean Dynamics and Climate (hereinafter referred to as “ODC Center”) was officially established through one Agreement signed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the host institute, the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (FIO, MNR) of China, at the Eighth Intergovernmental Session of UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-VIII) in Bali, Indonesia in May 2010. The cooperation agreement with the work plan for 2015-2020 had been renewed through the exchange of letters in 2015.

As per the Agreement, “the objectives of the Center shall be to enhance the regional research capacity and capability on ocean dynamics, air-sea interactions, climate change and numerical modeling through, among others, provisions of regular training courses in English once a year to around 15-20 junior scientists and doctoral/master students mainly from the developing member states of IOC in the Western Pacific.”
With the constructive suggestions and overwhelming interests received from the previous training courses, the training course on Climate Dynamics and Air-sea Interactions will be held in Qingdao, China, 17-28 June 2019.

Objectives and Scope of the Training Course
This Training Course is designed to develop the capacity of member states in the Western Pacific (suitable candidates from outside the region will also be welcome), who are involved in the climate dynamics and air-sea interactions. The training course will cover the basic theory of ENSO, MJO and monsoon dynamics, the climate dynamics in tropical oceans, the impact of hurricanes and tropical storms on the coast regions, the interactions of sea ice, ocean, atmosphere and land surface in high-latitude region, and the analyzing methods in climate dynamics and air-sea interactions. In addition, some lectures of scientific frontier will also designed to broaden the knowledge of the trainees, including the air-sea interaction in meso and submeso scales, the air-sea interactions in small scale and their applications in ocean-atmosphere coupled model.

Expected Outcomes
In addition to establishing the regional network of ocean and climate research, the trainees are expected to improve their understanding on the air-sea interactions in the climate dynamics and practices on applying the analyzing methods in the study of regional climate.

Date and Venue
The training course will be conducted from 17- 28 June 2019 in Qingdao, China.
Lecturers for the Training Course: experienced experts on climate dynamics and air-sea interaction within and outside the region will serve as lecturers of this training course. Lecturers and more detailed agenda for the training course will be updated on the website of the ODC Center.

Working Language
The courses will be conducted in English.

Trainees
Trainees will be selected mainly from WESTPAC member states with priority given to those young scientists and junior technical staff who have experience in studying the climate dynamics, air-sea interaction and/or have doctoral degrees in related major. The applicants should have a good command of English.

Financial Assistance for Participants
The ODC Center will provide financial support for about 15-20 trainees mainly from developing countries. A selection committee will be set-up with a view to selecting the most qualified experts among applications to receive financial assistance. The information filled in the application form will be of great help for the selection process.

Deadline for Application
The number of trainees will be limited to around 40 and an online register system is available for the Training Course. Applicants are encouraged to register by this system. If this system is not work, the filled-in offline application form (download) shall be sent to Dr Xunqiang Yin (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) and with a copy to Ms Nachapa Saransuth (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) at the following addresses. The offline application form will be found in the website of ODC center. Both the online and offline application should be done no later than 10 April 2019.

For more information at the link:
http://odc.fio.com.cn:8000/a/announcement/announcement/2019/0128/99.html 

Visa
Selected trainees traveling to China probably need to apply for entry visa to China in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Please check the visa requirements with the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in your country and apply for it as soon as possible. The local secretariat (Dr Xunqiang Yin) will be glad to provide you any assistance upon your request.

(Source: The UNESCO/IOC ODC Center)