Let’s hack the ocean!

It was a privilege to attend the Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi this week. An incredible congregation of scientists, policy makers, and brilliant minds convened, converged, and collaborated – all in the name of increasing global access to information to support sustainable development.

Check it out here. 

One project that captured my imagination is the brainchild of none other than Pierre-Yves Cousteau, youngest son of the legendary Jacques Cousteau; the founder of Cousteau Divers, and the IUCN’s Marine Program Officer. Pierre’s objective is simple – he wants to know the temperature of the ocean.

Isn’t it incredible that in 2015 we don’t know that?

Pierre-Yves Cousteau at Eye on Earth. Project Hermes launch.

The ocean’s temperatures greatly influence our planet’s climate, weather, fish stocks, bird populations and are steadily increasing yet our understanding of how they vary at the scale of the ecosystems is largely unknown to science.

The data exists and you can help!

Let’s hack the ocean!

You’re a diver – you’ve got a dive computer? On your computer is data – incredibly useful data – that can help in mapping historic and the real-time temperatures of the ocean, at depth, world-wide.

It’s a citizen science revolution – support humankind’s understanding of the ocean and its role in climate change by downloading your data – photos / videos and most importantly – the temperature data from your dive computer!

And for dive centers and communities – Pierre -Yves is currently setting up a network of Cousteau Dive centers around the world. New Zealand and Australia – get involved! Become a Cousteau Dive Centre! Share you and your dive community’s dive data!

Get involved and find our more here!

And I had the privilege of meeting Pierre-Yves and was lucky to be part of the team that hosted him for an event at the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. A top bloke, super down to earth, and he’s got vision. It’s not often you meet a guy with three Master degrees, who has worked for NASA and the European Space Agency, and now wants to study the deep….

The world needs people and projects like this.

I’m in. Are you?

Pierre-Yves Cousteau & Winston Cowie.

It’s in our hands!

Te hei mauri ora,

Winnie

Winston Cowie