Mon Dec 15 18:28:11 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the text:
Summary:
Vishal V. Sharma, India’s Ambassador to UNESCO, visited the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad. During his visit, he expressed support for the development of a dedicated space satellite for ocean observation in the region and advocated for increased training opportunities for young researchers. He also reviewed INCOIS’s tsunami early warning and ocean forecasting systems, praising their contributions to India and other Indian Ocean and Pacific Island nations. INCOIS plays a crucial role as a tsunami early warning center, disaster risk reduction coordinator, and a training center under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The visit follows a recent visit by the IOC Head at UNESCO.
News Article:
Indian Ambassador to UNESCO Backs Ocean Observation Satellite, Enhanced Training at INCOIS
HYDERABAD, INDIA – December 15, 2025 – India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO in Paris, Vishal V. Sharma, visited the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad today, signaling strong support for enhanced ocean observation capabilities and research in the region.
Ambassador Sharma endorsed the development of a dedicated space satellite focused on ocean monitoring, highlighting its potential to improve oceanographic understanding and prediction. He also emphasized the need to expand training opportunities for young researchers in the field of ocean science.
During his visit, Sharma reviewed INCOIS’s SynOps Lab, which provides crucial tsunami early warning and ocean forecasting services for India and several countries across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Islands. He commended INCOIS for its role as a nodal agency for tsunami early warning and disaster risk reduction, as well as its function as a Regional Tsunami Service Provider and an International Training Centre under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
INCOIS Director T. M. Balakrishnan Nair, along with senior scientists E. Pattabhi Ramarao and Sudhir Joseph, briefed Ambassador Sharma on the institute’s various initiatives and contributions. The visit follows a trip to INCOIS last month by Vidar Helgesen, IOC Head at UNESCO and former Foreign Minister of Norway, highlighting the increasing international recognition of India’s role in ocean research and disaster preparedness.
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