Global change requires studying the ocean in more detail and at longer and larger scales. Capacity development and training on standard survey techniques and the use of simple sensors has been identified as a tool to enhance ocean observation. This course serves as an introduction to oceanographic survey techniques and data processing. It is designed for Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs), students, and other oceanographers who intend to pursue oceanography and marine sciences. Relevant oceanographic (physical, chemical, and biological) datasets will collected and used during the training, making it easy to relate, understand, and apply the course concept.

Venue: AquaBioTech Group, Mosta, Malta

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the learners are expected to:

• Be familiar with oceanographic survey techniques.
• Understand how to use simple data collection tools and sensors.
• Be familiar with measurement of temperature, salinity, turbidity, depth oxygen and chlorophyll.
• Produce meaningful descriptive statistics and informative graphs from raw data.
• Results interpretation and discussion for scientific communication and writing.

Course contents

The course will be divided into 4 modules:

Module 1: Field sampling techniques for basic coastal oceanographic parameters

• Introduction to oceanographic parameters temperature, salinity, turbidity, depth oxygen and chlorophyll.
• Preparing a field work checklist,
• Safety measures during field work
• Calibration, and deploying of sensors and equipment
• Field surveys

Module 2: Data visualization and management

• Data retrieval
• Data entry
• Data visualization in R software using ggplot package
• Simple analysis using R
• Data management: storage, sharing and repository

Module 3: Basics of scientific writing

• Language and structure
• Graphics and visuals
• Citation and referencing
• Plagiarism

Module 4: Basics of science communication and outreach

• Language and sentence structure in science communication
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Visuals for infographics
• Policy briefs

Target audience

ECOPs who are enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or have completed their Masters Degree and intend to use this knowledge in their academic or research related work. No prior R knowledge will be required, but knowledge on basics of oceanography is desired.  The current course is specifically targeting ECOPs from and/or based in the Mediterranean region (from Southern Europe, Northern Africa and Western Middle East).

Language of instruction: English

Moderators and Instructors

Ines Boujmil – Aqua Biotech Group

Dr. Anabel von Jackwoski - Stockholm University

Mr. Gabriel Akoko Juma – Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany

Organizers

This course is being organized with the support of the Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Stockholm University, Aqua Biotech Group, International Ocean Institute, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Blue Economy and UNESCO-IOC Ocean Teacher Global Academy.

Course duration and format:

This is a blended course, which includes online preparation activities from 4-7 November 2024 (with approximately 8 hours of synchronous and asynchronous activities), and onsite in person activities from 11-15 November 2024 (approximately 35 hours).

The online sessions will take place from 17:00 HRS to 19:00 HRS, Berlin time to allow for participation of teachers and students from a wide range of times zones. Recordings of the online sessions will also be provided to students who might experience internet challenges.

Learner Assessment and Certificate

In order to successfully complete the course and award a Certificate at the end, the following is mandatory to:

• To complete all the modules both online and in-person.
• Submit the assignments on time 
• Submit a brief individual/team project report. The report will be a summary of the concepts learned in the course, including the sampling design, analysis done from the dataset and the plots. The students will present a brief report (500 words max, number of pages will depend on number of figures generated).

Note: Certificate will be issued to all participants who will have completed the modules and attained the 50% pass mark.

Note: submitting the course feedback survey is mandatory to obtain the course certificate.

Pre-requisites and requirements

To complete this course, you should have access to:

• A laptop from which the students can perform tasks and join the synchronous sessions (you will be required to carry your laptop to the training site).
• Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari web browsers
• Linux (preferably Ubuntu 16.04 or above)
• Access to the Internet for online sessions
• Availability to travel and take part in the 1-week onsite course in Malta

Prior to the course, the learners will be required to:

1. Register and familiarize yourself with the OTGA platform.
2. Download and install R and other software that will be communicated.
3. Download the datasets that will be uploaded on the OTGA platform
4. Do a self-introduction on the OTGA platform and highlight their expectations
5. Read the course materials notes that will be prepared by the lecturers.
6. Confirm their availability for the in-person training in Malta

How to apply

This course has a limited number of participants (approximately 10-15 participants). 

Please complete the online application form available on this LINK .The applications start on 17 July 2024 and the deadline to submit is 31 July 2024  (23:59 CEST: Central European Summer Time).

UNESCO is committed to promoting equal access principles. Applications from minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Selection criteria

ECOPs from Mediterranean region that is; Southern Europe including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Slovenia and Spain; Northern Africa including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, and Western Middle East including Syria Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, and Turkey.

ECOPs who are pursuing their undergraduate or postgraduate degree or have graduated with a Masters degree and intend to pursue PhD. ECOPs who intend to use this knowledge in their academic work will be encouraged to apply.

Contacts

• Course Coordinators: Gabriel Juma gabriel.juma@awi.de
• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

Costs

Free of charge. There are no tuition fees.

Course organizers will cover the cost of travel to and from Malta, accommodation, and meals during the training for a limited number of participants. The course is supported by the OceanTeacher Global Academy of the IOC UNESCO and hosted by Aqua Biotech Group, Malta. Eligibility for support requires meeting the prerequisites and target audience.

The instructors will give the course voluntarily.

Cancellation policy

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.