CUNY CREST Celebrates the UN Endorsement of Professor Maria Tzortziou’s NASA Mission FORTE as an UN Ocean Decade Project
Professor Maria Tzortziou’s innovative project, Frontlines of Rapidly Transforming Ecosystems (FORTE), has been endorsed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO as an official United Nations Decade Project. This designation places FORTE among a new wave of initiatives advancing the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), a global effort to generate ‘the science we need for the ocean we want.’
Led by Professor Tzortziou, Co-Director of the Research and Application Pillar at CUNY CREST; Co-Lead of the Research, Development, and Innovation Pillar at R-SIRUS; Endowed Professor of Environmental Sciences, and director of BioOptics Lab at CCNY’s Center for Discovery and Innovation Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science, FORTE is a joint initiative between the City University of New York (CUNY) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) focused on the remote coastal Alaskan Arctic.
Over the next four years, FORTE will deploy cutting-edge observing technologies from satellites and aircraft to drones and next-generation research vessels, to capture unprecedented details of coastal Arctic processes. The project brings together local Alaskan communities, national research institutions, and global scientific partners to understand how sea ice dynamics, riverine fluxes, coastal waters, and ecosystems are interconnected along one of the most critical areas on Earth for energy resources, shipping routes, biodiversity, food security, cultural heritage, and national security.
Photos by: Maria Tzortziou
“We are thrilled that UNESCO-IOC has formally endorsed FORTE as an official UN Ocean Decade Project. This milestone recognizes FORTE’s vital role in advancing ocean science and the opportunity for direct contributions to global sustainability goals. FORTE is an ambitious program that involves experts from 18 leading institutions, including the Alfred Wegener Institute, Columbia University, Duke University, Florida State University, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the US Naval Research Lab and many others. This milestone opens exciting doors for us to broaden our impact,” said Maria.
FORTE is highlighted in the UN Ocean Decade’s announcement under Innovative solutions for scientific cooperation in polar regions, Africa, and islands, alongside a select group of projects contributing to the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034) and the International Polar Year (2032-2033).
This endorsement is both a scientific and institutional milestone, highlighting the leadership of Professor Tzortziou, CUNY CREST, and R-SIRUS in advancing global climate and ocean science. As the Arctic faces rapid change, FORTE’s work will help scientists, policymakers, communities, and global leaders make informed decisions for the future of our oceans, local communities and the planet.
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About CUNY CREST
The CUNY Remote Sensing Earth System Institute (CUNY CREST), based at the City College of New York, is a research institute within the City University of New York dedicated to advancing Earth system science, climate research, and remote sensing to address critical environmental and societal challenges. Learn more.
About the UNU-Hub R-SIRUS
The UNU Hub on Remote-Sensing and Sustainable Innovations for Resilient Urban Systems (R-SIRUS), located at the City College of New York, is committed to enhancing scientific understanding, developing innovative solutions, and preparing a skilled workforce to tackle global challenges related to water, the environment, climate, energy, health, and sustainable development. Learn more.
About UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the UN General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) aims to advance ocean science, reverse the decline of marine ecosystems, and create new opportunities for sustainable development. Guided by the vision of ‘the science we need for the ocean we want,’ the Ocean Decade brings together scientists and stakeholders to generate knowledge, foster partnerships, and deliver science-based solutions to support the 2030 Agenda. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO coordinates its preparation and implementation. Learn more.
