The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IOPAN) was established in 1983, evolving from the Marine Station in Sopot, which had operated since 1953. As Poland’s leading marine research institution, IOPAN conducts advanced investigations in the Baltic Sea and the European Arctic, with research spanning climate change processes, marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystem dynamics, and marine biotechnology. The Institute also operates the research vessel s/y Oceania, which has supported scientific expeditions in the Baltic and Arctic seas for more than four decades. IOPAN publishes Oceanologia, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to marine and coastal science, with particular emphasis on the Baltic Sea and European Arctic environments.

Through the sustained commitment of its research community and long-standing international collaborations, the Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing marine and polar science and in promoting the protection and sustainable use of the ocean environment.
IOPAN leads a national consortium comprising the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, the University of Gdańsk, the Maritime Institute of the Gdynia Maritime University, the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk, and the University of Szczecin. Together, these institutions constitute Poland’s National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC). IOPAN’s expertise in satellite remote sensing, in situ observation systems, and environmental data modelling—including through the SatBałtyk system—underpins national environmental monitoring and contributes to international research efforts. This data stewardship supports climate science, marine conservation, and sustainable ocean governance, aligning the Institute with global standards for oceanographic data management.

IODE welcomes IOPAN as lead institution of the newly designated IODE National Oceanographic Data Centre, expanding the network to 65 NODCs, including 11 accredited centres. The designated NODC contact point is Dr Eng. Marcin Wichorowski Dr Wichorowski serves as Head of Data and IT Infrastructure Management at the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, where he oversees the development and operation of systems supporting oceanographic data stewardship and digital infrastructure. His leadership is central to IOPAN’s role as Poland’s National Oceanographic Data Center.

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see the overview of all IODE Data Centers HERE