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Observing the Impact of IMOS

As a research infrastructure, IMOS delivers high quality marine and climate data to Australia’s scientists, students, industries and other stakeholders for their use in research and operational activities. IMOS data is taken up and used thousands of times, creating impact and benefits at local, national and global scales. IMOS measures impact in two ways: through our societal benefit and through our more proximate research infrastructure impact.

Thomas Moore, CSIRO

IMOS social benefit

Australia has an expansive marine estate, which influences many aspects of our social, cultural and economic lives, and the environment in which we live. The importance of our marine estate is reflected in the range of areas where it intersects with areas of societal benefit. IMOS has identified five areas of societal benefit where our observations and data can produce value for Australia.

Coastal populations

  • Infrastructure 
  • Industry 
  • Populations 
  • Tourism 
  • Human health

Food Security

  • Fishing
  • Aquaculture
  • Recreational fishing
  • Agriculture

Energy Security

  • Oil and gas industry 
  • Renewable energy: terrestrial and ocean

Biodiversity conservation & management

  • Threatened species 
  • Monitoring and assessment 
  • Environmental obligations 
  • Biosecurity 
  • Marine Protected Areas

Marine Sovereignty, safety & security

  • Ports and shipping
  • Indigenous Australians and sea country
  • Border security and defence
  • Search and rescue
  • Regional security and aid

Research infrastructure impact

Social

Promote and support social responsibility within and beyond Australia’s marine observing system.

Scientific

Be a national and world-leading research infrastructure and an enabling facility to support science excellence.

Training & Education

Promote educational outreach and knowledge transfer to support the next generation of marine and climate scientists.

Economic & Community

Support regional, national and international communities, industries and clusters of scientific excellence.

Technology & Innovation

Provide high quality scientific data and associated services, to underpin and enable innovation.

IMOS impact case studies

The IMOS Impact Case Studies showcase the benefits derived from investment in national research infrastructure.

The series will demonstrate how IMOS observations are used by marine and climate scientists, forecasters, and marine industries whose research and product development deliver benefit to Australian and global communities.

Keep up-to-date with our latest impact case studies, demonstrating how IMOS observations are used by marine and climate scientists, forecasters, and marine industries whose research and product development deliver benefit to Australian and global communities.

Food security

IMOS and space

IMOS data delivery

Weather and climate forecasting