Engagement with Early Career Ocean Professionals

My tenure with the GEO Blue Planet Knauss Marine Policy Fellow] initiative has been an exhilarating ride, an opportunity to unleash the full potential of my diverse skills and interests… GEO Blue Planet has been an eye-opener, expanding my horizons and granting me the privilege of participating as a panelist and presenter at various international conferences including the NAP Expo in Santiago, Chile, the GEO Symposium, and Open Data Open Knowledge Symposium in Geneva along with the opportunity to visit many countries in Europe.

As a native of the Caribbean islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I was drawn to GEO Blue Planet’s mission of promoting the use of ocean and coastal observational data to support policy and decision making in regions of the world most susceptible to marine and coastal related issues such as large ocean states and developing countries. Additionally, as a geospatial biologist characterizing the spatiotemporal population dynamics of disruptive jellyfish species in the Chesapeake Bay, I was highly impressed not only by the far reaching applications of remote sensing in supporting the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources, but more so by the vast network of scientists, Earth Observation experts and decision makers from across the world who worked together to provide actionable outcomes based on stakeholder needs.

GEO Blue Planet’s commitment to fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and translating it into actionable outcomes is inspiring. Together, we are creating an ecosystem of science, technology, and policy that supports not just our oceans, but the communities and industries that rely on them. It’s an honour to contribute to an initiative that truly believes in making a positive impact on our world.

In October 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the AAORIA Forum 2024 of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance in Ottawa, Canada. As an Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) representative sponsored by GEO Blue Planet, I was honoured to be the sole participant from Morocco. This forum, organized by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the European Commission, and the OKEANO CSA, provided an excellent platform to engage with other early-career professionals from the UK, South Africa, Ireland, and Canada in an intergenerational dialogue. We had the opportunity to develop a policy brief addressing one of the key marine challenges, focusing on ocean observation in the Atlantic.

As the only ECOP from my country and from the Caribbean region, I would like to graciously thank my sponsors. My participation was funded by the Horizon Europe Project, EU4OceanObs [through the OceanBRIDGES initiative]. This was my first interaction with the AAORIA community, despite its scope directly aligning with that of the IMA’s, and as a direct extension my professional experience as an ocean researcher. There were a number of meaningful connections during this experience that were only made possible by my physical attendance at the fora. … It was truly an impactful experience, interacting with the All-Atlantic community, and participating as an ECOP during the Intergenerational Dialogue Event. Looking forward to more!

Attending the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Forum in Ottawa, Canada deepened my knowledge of addressing global ocean challenges, broadened my understanding of coastal resilience strategies, expanded my network, and enhanced my communication, presentation and moderation skills. These experiences have empowered me to be able to contribute to science-policy dialogues at international fora.
I am grateful to my sponsor, [the Horizon Europe Project EU4OceanObs through OceanBRIDGES] for funding my participation in this event.

Attending [the third UN Ocean Conference] UNOC3 as an ECOP from the Caribbean with a GIS professional background was a rich and enlightening experience. It was an honour to provide insights into the detection and forecasting of sargassum, and a privilege to speak on my experience at the One Ocean Science Congress and UNOC3, highlighting the need for greater inclusion of ECOPS from [Small Island Developing States (SIDS)], particularly from the Caribbean and how they can be invited to the conversation. There were often Panels and Side Events that I attended, with an absence of a SIDS or geospatial perspective or not much consideration towards the inclusion of local ecological or indigenous knowledge. Being able to pipe up in those rooms and be heard was only made possible by my physical presence. I am extremely grateful that my participation and attendance were sponsored by [EU4OceanObs through GEO Blue Planet’s OceanBRIDGES], through Mercator Ocean International.

Attending the One Ocean Science Congress (held in Nice, France in June 2025) was a transformational experience. It gave me a unique opportunity to network with global ocean experts, contribute my voice as an Early Career Ocean Professional from Ghana, and contribute to the discussion on designing digital twins for the ocean, providing relevant knowledge for ocean management.
The experience, networking, and inspiration I received will greatly impact my career development and strengthen my dedication to ocean conservation.
I am thankful to Mercator Ocean International EU4OceanObs for the opportunity and pleased to be a part of the community contributing to a better ocean. One Ocean!”