Governance
The Governance Framework for IMOS is essentially a partnership between particular institutions for the delivery of marine observing infrastructure on behalf of the marine community with each institution agreeing to a particular role. Nationally the program will be managed and coordinated by the IMOS Office established and operated by the University of Tasmania which will enter into the NCRIS Funding Agreement with the Department of Education, Science and Technology (DEST) for the implementation of IMOS. In turn, the University of Tasmania through the IMOS Office will enter into an IMOS Funding Agreement with the Operators for the ownership and operation of the infrastructure (Facilities and Sub Facilities ) under the terms of the DEST agreement and this investment plan.
The IMOS Office is responsible for coordination of the program, development of strategic and business plans, operation of the advisory system, communication and engagement with the marine community at-large through the nodal structure, and planning and promotion. A key strategic priority for the IMOS Office will be to sustain the program into the longer term.
The scientific rationale for IMOS was established by consortia (termed nodes) within the marine research community. There are six nodes – a blue water climate observing node and five regional coastal nodes. The IMOS Steering Group is composed of Node Leaders. IMOS will deliver data to support research planned by the Nodes.
An Advisory Board will provide strategic guidance to the IMOS Office, monitor the overall strategic direction, management and performance of the program in accordance with the NCRIS Investment Plan and the NCRIS/DEST Agreement. Annual business operational plans and budget allocations will require concurrence of the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will comprise an Independent Chair, the Director IMOS Office and 8 members nominated by the marine community through the nodes collectively for their abilities to guide the program. One member will be an international scientist.
The IMOS office will fund and coordinate particular institutions (termed operators) for the implementation of instruments and infrastructure (termed facilities and sub-facilities). There are eleven facilities, each operating a different type of instrumentation. The facilities will deliver streams of data to support research in the regional and blue water nodes.
Where appropriate, each Facility will establish a User Group drawn from the nodes to provide input from the user community to assist in the development of operational plans and protocols and the dissemination of technical expertise and capability. Facilities may cooperate to have User Groups in common. The IMOS Office will coordinate national reporting, relationships between the Operators,n and operational and technical matters.