https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 23.6 2026-03-19T10:41:57.720Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/providers/58dd05e3-03d3-4d3e-bb05-837f20af35a5 BE/VLIZ The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ, http://www.vliz.be/) was created on 2April 1999 by the Flemish Government, the Province of the West-Flanders and theBelgian National Science Foundation. It is an autonomous institution, with thelegal status of a not-for-profit organization. The Flemish Government and theProvince West-Flanders both contribute financially. The organizationalstructure and objectives of VLIZ are determined in the statutes and in afive-yearly management agreement. Privileges and obligations of the members aredetermined in a code of order; a membership form can be obtained from thesecretariat or from the web site. VLIZ is a membership organization. Everyonewith an interest in research in the coastal zone can, individually or as agroup, become a member.The main task of VLIZ is supporting and visualizing scientific research in thecoastal area. By doing so, it developed a co-ordination forum, an oceanographicplatform and the Flanders Marine Data and Information Centre. Besides, theinstitute acts as contact point and provides advices on demand of thegovernment or on our own initiative. The VLIZ contributes also in popularizingscience, in sensitizing in further expanding our marine multi-media center. TheVLIZ has an interface function between the scientific community, the publicauthorities and the public at large.