Last week, the Millennium Science Initiative (ICM), run by Chile’s Ministry of Economy, informed the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO) that its continuation for the coming five-year period was approved.

This came to pass after IMO was evaluated by an international panel of experts in October, who closely analyzed both its performance and its achievements during its first five years of operations.

In the final conclusions and assessments, the evaluators agreed on highlighting “the Institute’s vision and the efforts it has made to go over scientific and technological barriers, which have allowed it to set new records for oceanographic research carried out in Chile.” On top of that, they pointed out “both IMO’s ability to do science meeting international standards and its cultural significance for its local environment.”

At IMO, we are happy to receive this news as we optimistically look at the promising scenario for oceanographic research in Chile. We will tackle this new stage with enthusiasm, hoping to continue developing pioneering research in the eastern South Pacific and promoting Chile’s development, thus seeking to consolidate our Institute as a national and international leader when it comes to the study of the open and deep sea.