The EU4Ocean Summer School on Ocean Literacy & Collaboration is a 5-day training (29 - 4 July, 2025) dedicated to thinking about how to better collaborate on ocean-related projects. It is composed of theoretical lectures and practical training for early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) on ocean literacy and collaboration on nature-based solutions for the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The training is developed under the European Ocean Coalition (EU4Ocean) framework of the European Commission and is organized in the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The Summer School will gather 25 international young professionals.

Infos: https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/eu4ocean-summer-school-on-ocean-literacy-collaboration-venice-2025/

Location: Venice, Italy

Learning outcomes

At the end of this training, learners should know:

• How to effectively collaborate on the development of ocean-related projects; 
• How to improve communication and storytelling in transdisciplinary and multicultural environments;How to collaborate and advance ocean literacy for nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean and Black Seas;
• How to deal with local hot-topics and how to engage with local institutions and stakeholders;
• To become familiar with the objectives and actions of the EU4Ocean Coalition and Youth4Ocean Forum and scale up their efforts, under the framework of the UN Ocean Decade.

Course content

• UN Ocean Decade, UNESCO-IOC, EU4Ocean and Youth4Ocean Forum overview.
• Theoretical lectures about local climate adaptations, nature-based solutions, development and management of ocean conservation project (KPIs, stakeholder identification and engagement).
• Field activities: architectural and historical tour of the city of Venice, hands-on workshop of marine spatial planning, tour of the National Research Council venue, in field tour of Lazzaretto Nuovo and its Sentiero delle Barene – Saltmarsh trail, to assess the different efficacy of ecosystem services provided by natural and artificial saltmarshes.
• Focus on Challenge 10: shaping ocean sensitivity through arts and culture.
• Soft skills: empathy and multicultural collaboration, scientific storytelling and public speaking for marine conservation and public awareness.

Target audience: Early Career Ocean Professionals, master and PhD students with mixed and interdisciplinary backgrounds. 

Language: English

Instructors

• Francesca Santoro, Senior Programme Officer (Ocean Literacy), UNESCO-IOC
• Valentina Lovat, Associate Programme Specialists of UNESCO-IOC, focal point for youth
• Gaia Maria Sole Intonti, Associate Programme Specialists of UNESCO-IOC, focal point for educational resources
• Jerneja Penca, Mediterranean Institute for Environmental Studies
• Anna Maria Marino, Youth4Ocean representative
• Raffaele Dessì, architect and historian
• Francesco Musco, IUAV University
• Fabio Carella, IUAV University
• Folco Soffietti, IUAV University
• Vittore Negretto, IUAV University
• Maria Loloni, EIT – Climate KIC
• Giorgio Castellan - CNR
• Simone Armeli Minicante - CNR
• Christian Toson - CNR
• Laura Cannarozzi - CNR
• Alberto Barausse, University of Padova
• Lucy Cathcart-Frödén, Sonic and Community Art
• Therese Carnemalm, Ocean Ambassador for Bauhaus of the Seas Sails project
• Federico Girotto, ONOFF designer
• Representative from Dotdotdot Company (TBD)

Organizers

UNESCO-IOC, Ocean Literacy team, based at the Venice Regional Bureau for Science and Culture

Venice Municipality

CNR

IUAV

Universitty of Padova

Course duration and format

Blended course, with a total of 51 hours of training time between online studies and in-person activities.

Certificate and Learner Assessment

The certificate will be issued after the completion and full attendance of the activities planned online and onsite, including successfully completing the work group presentation.

Pre-requisites and requirements

B2 level of English.

Application process

The application process was coordinated by the organizers. Participants have been selected according to the following criteria:

• Gender balance
• Geographical representation
• Age range: up to 35 years old
• Background: all the sectors are encouraged to apply. We will pay attention to create an interdisciplinary group.
• Priority will be given to youth from the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, as well as members of the Y4O Forum and ECOPs

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

Costs:

This training has no tuition fees.

5 grants are available to cover the travel costs; accommodation for the whole week is provided to all the participants; breakfasts, lunches and 2 social dinners are included. Participants will have to cover the costs of travel and dinners (excluded 2 social dinners offered by the organizers)

Feedback survey

At the end of the course, you will be asked to fill out a feedback survey. This information will be used to improve future courses.

Contacts

For any questions, please contact OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) or Gaia Maria Sole Intonti (gm.intonti@unesco.org) always using the name of the course as e-mail subject.

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.