On 6 June 2007 the Board of the A.P.Sloan Foundation approved a renewal grant to MAR-ECO. The comment from programme director Jesse Ausubel to the MAR-ECO network was: "Everyone is very impressed with what you have accomplished and looks forward to continuing excellence and daring". The challenges for the next 2-year phase starting 1 July were described in the proposal submitted by the Steering Group: "While continuing to analyse and publish results from the initial research cruises to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 2003-2005, MAR-ECO entered a second 3-year field phase in 2007. Steps have been taken to expand the project to the South Atlantic where a new regional consortium is being established. A key task for the two years ahead is synthesising MAR-ECO results in preparation for the 2010 closure of the Census of Marine Life." The new grant secures continued efforts such as: Management of network and data, incl. contact with other CoML avtivities such as OBIS, Barcode of Life and field projects. Annual project meeting. Support to sub-group meetings and activities to complete analyses of 2003-2005 data and samples (small grants). Support to activities associated with new cruises 2007-2009 (grants to pay costs not covered by national funds). Support to continue development of a South Atlantic MAR-ECO. Public Outreach and Education activity.
Odd Aksel Bergstad | 
Continued support from A.P. Sloan Foundation