The Course aims to raise awareness and evaluate the current knowledge on pharmacontamiantion of the Ocean and its impact on marine life, human health and blue economy.

The Course is in line with the Ocean Decade Campaign and, in particular, with the SDG14 since it will inform citizens and professionals about the hidden danger of medicines spread in the ocean, pollutants capable of exerting a detrimental effect on the marine ecosystem.

Key contents will include topics about the magnitude of pharmacocontamination in the ocean; and ecopharmacovigilance and marine-pharmacovigilance as new emerging concepts.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the participants are expected to be able to understand, analise and evaluate the importance of pharma-contamination, to categorize and detect the importance of the ocean on human health, and to create the future leaders in different ocean regions that are capable of sustaining critical thinking and to fight ocean pollution derived from pharmaceuticals at all society levels.

Target audience

The training is focused on undergraduate and postgraduate students (in Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Tourism, Engineering, Chemistry, Agronomy, and Veterinary), researchers, policy makers, and lecturers. Applications are open to everyone.

Pre-requisites

Participants must:

• Have prior knowledge about marine life and the environment.
• A working knowledge of English.

Course content

• Módule 1 Introduction to marine eco-pharmacovigilance (4 h)
  • Pharmacovigilance principles (30 min)
  • Pharmacovigilance in rivers (1.5 h)
  • Pharmacovigilance in seas/oceans (2 h)
• Módule 2 The impact of medicines pollution on marine biodiversity
  • Evidence in terms of interferences on corals and algae metabolism due to medicines (2 h)
  • Evidence in terms of interferences on fishes and mollusks metabolism due to medicines (2 h)
• Módule 3 The impact of medicines pollution on coastal environment and human health (6 h)
  • Medicines-related pollution effect in fishing and aquaculture (2 h)
  • Medicines microdoses and effect for human health (2 h)
  • Sunscreens as pollutants (2 h)
• Módule 4 The Ocean contribution to Pharmacology and One Health (4 h)
  • Traditional medicine derived from the Ocean (1 h)
  • Veterinary medicines derived from the Ocean (1.5 h)
  • Human health and ocean-related drug-discovery (1.5 h)
• Módule 5 Communication Strategies to Advocate Ocean Protection (2 h)

Language of instruction: English

Course Duration, Synchronous Sessions, and Format

This course is expected to be mainly self-paced, with an estimated total of 20 hours to complete all activities. No live sessions are planned. 

Instructors

Onsea Albertina

Damiani Giovanni

Prof. Arijana Meštrović 

Daniel Joshua

Kenneth Mei Yee Leung

Dr. Chong CHEN

Organizers

This course is organized by the University of Milan (Research Center of Precision Medicine and Chronic Inflammation) and the UNESCO IOC OceanTeacher Global Academy.

Application process and selection criteria

OTGA online application form. Before starting the online application process, applicants must: (a) create a profile in OceanExpert (www.oceanexpert.org); (b) prepare a short Curriculum Vitae; and (c) prepare a motivational statement highlighting the relevance of this course for the candidate's career (maximum 300 words).

A limited number of seats are available (approximately 50). Please complete the online application form available on this LINK [https://otga.wufoo.com/forms/m1er1ms20dgqsk3/]. The applications start on 12 August 2025. The deadline to submit the application is 20 September 2025.

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

Assessment & Certificate

• Complete all lessons in each Module of the course
• Complete all quizzes with 70% minimum score. For each quiz you are allowed 2 attempts and the highest grade is recorded
• Complete the Course Satisfaction Survey
• Complete pre and post tests

Contacts

• Course Coordinators: Giovanni Damiani (Giovanni.damiani1@unimi.it)
• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

Costs

Free of charge. There are no tuition fees.

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.