Vision

Management of our water resources a good knowledge base. The UN World Water Development Report provides a definition of knowledge base: ‘ a narrow definition
would describe the knowledge base as all aspects of data gathering, information, experience and knowledge enabling countries and regions to produce a well-documented
assessment of their water resources. However, because water affects every facet of life, from health to agriculture, to industry and the ecosystem at large, the knowledge
and skills required to improve stewardship of this finite resource stretch across an extremely broad spectrum encompassing education, health, law, economics, communications,
and science and technology.’

Marine monitoring contributes to the knowledge base for sustainable management of the marine environment. As emphasised in the past decades time after time,
information should be comparable in time and space. Measurements in the marine environment pose in this respect a challenge to the laboratories involved, as sophisticated
sampling and analysis strategies and techniques are required.

The number of laboratories active in the marine environment is relatively small. Investments in the development of improved; more efficient procedures for existing or new
determinants are high. Therefore, cooperation and exchange of experience are important for cost-effective improvement of the knowledge bases for the marine environment.

Quasimeme has as mission to contribute to an effective knowledge base for the marine environment by providing support to laboratories to obtain data which are fit
for purpose and thus comparable with those of other laboratories in the field and by providing its participants tools for cooperation and exchange of experience.
This mission is summarised in the mission statement:

Quasimeme stands for an active Community of Practice for Marine Environmental Measurements.

To this end, Quasimeme has as objectives:

1. The organisation of laboratory proficiency testing schemes for determinants required for marine environmental management
2. The organisation of development exercises to enable laboratories to develop methodology collaboratively in an efficient manner.
3. The organisation of workshops on practical issues with the aim to improve analytical capabilities.
4. The provision of a state of the art platform for the exchange of experience and information among laboratories.

The ambitions of Quasimeme are high. Quasimeme provides the infrastructure and opportunities, but it depends on the participants themselves how much benefits the scheme gives to each participant.

We welcome your participation and hope that you will actively take part both as source and user of knowledge and experience in a thriving Community!