OceanTeacher Global Academy

This course aims to equip ocean data leaders in regions across the globe with the knowledge and tools to grow their own communities of practice, thereby developing professional expertise and data literacy for ocean data producers, curators, and users as identified in the Ocean Decade’s Data Strategy Implementation Plan.

General learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Support community buy-in and develop learning opportunities to train others within their own countries and regions about ocean data 
• Seed and lead their own local or regional ocean data Communities of Practice
• Play leading roles in the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing’s global Community of Practice
• Lead cross-border cooperation on specific data sharing topics of interest

Course content & planning

Four modules of three topics delivered on-online with targeted, in-person follow-up.

Each topic will consist of:

• One one-hour lecture - pre-recorded to allow learners to watch at their own pace
• Follow-up discussion time - online, in groups
• Activities to re-inforce the learning

Module 1 (November 2025)

1.1 Setting the scene: Why ocean data management, incentives to sharing data, and the global ocean data landscape

• • Aim: To provide an introduction and overview to the course; to describe some of the impacts, benefits and motivations in sharing well-managed ocean data; to give an overview of the global and regional ocean data sharing networks and initiatives.
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to explain to others why it is important to manage and share ocean data and what options are available to make this happen at a global scale

1.2 Understanding roles: The IODE Quality Framework, Steps, Roles of Individuals

• • Aim: To give an introduction to the Quality Framework that IODE uses to manage and share ocean data across its network; to outline the various roles that exist within the framework and how these relate to an ocean data community of practice
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to describe the key roles that are needed in an ocean data community of practice and the quality framework that activity sits within

1.3 Identifying your ocean data community: Who will you engage with, support, and train?

• • Aim: To help learners consider who their ocean data community is and what the focus of learning/training needs in that community is
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to identify the purpose of their community of practice, and to identify and invite potential members

Module 2 (December 2025)

2.1 Planning: making your marine projects and programmes “data first”

• • Aim: To explain to learners the Data Management Planning process and how it helps in making a project or programme “data first’
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to lead in Data Management Planning in their organisation or community of practice

2.2 Quality data matters

• • Aim: To introduce learners to a range of thematic data quality issues, which may be beyond their normal area of expertise and to the impacts of data quality on the re-use of data in a range of ocean applications
  • Outcome: Learners will have an overview of the importance of ocean data quality which they can bring to their communities of practice and be informed of key resources which they can point their communities of practice

2.3 Building your ocean data community:

• • Aim: To equip learners with skills in building a community of practice in ocean data management and sharing
  • Outcome: Learners will be confident in their ability to grow a community of practice from the potential members identified in Block 1.

Module 3 (January 2025)

3.1 Putting data to work - sharing ocean data to enable insight and action

• • Aim: To enable communities of practice to understand how to prepare data for sharing, where to share and some tools that can be used to share data which can then be used in creating insights
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to encourage data sharing in their communities of practice, and advise on best practices, technology choices, etc

3.2 How do I get credit for sharing my data? Moving from data sharing to data publication

• • Aim: To help learners to understand the difference between sharing data and formal data publication, the benefits of data publication, how to get started, and how to use digital object identifiers for datasets
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to describe data publication to their communities of practice and be aware of options to allow for formal citation of datasets created by their communities of practice

3.3 Creating learning spaces in your ocean data community

• • Aim: A key activity of communities of practice is sharing knowledge and helping members to learn from each other. This session will focus on the key aspects of a healthy peer-based learning environment, and will be followed in block 4 by a session on designing effective learning sessions
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to foster healthy environments in their communities of practice to allow the growth and development of members

Module 4 (February 2026)

4.1 What is the IODE network and who is involved

• • Aim: The IODE network is the key ocean data sharing network globally and consists of a number of components. This session will introduce learners to the makeup of IODE’s network and its scope of work
  • Outcome: Learners will be able to introduce the IODE network to their communities of practice and to align activities of the community to IODE activity, including working alongside National Oceanographic Data Centres and Associated Data Units

4.2 Getting organisational support and buy-in

• • Aim: As data communities of practice are often engaged in organisational change, getting buy-in or support for their activities is key. This session will equip learners with tools to help with raising the profile of and engagement with their communities of practice leading to greater impact.
  • Outcome: Learners will be equipped with skills and knowledge to effectively communicate the work of their communities of practice to a range of stakeholders and to get buy-in from decision makers

4.3 Designing learning

• • Aim: Communities of Practice support their members by giving them focussed learning opportunities. This session will introduce the concepts in designing effective learning opportunities
  • Outcomes: Learners will be able to plan effective and targeted training sessions to develop skills within their communities of practice

In-person Follow-up (2026)

• Aims: To provide in-person spaces to follow-up on the train-the-trainer course content and to develop individual roadmaps to action, implementation of which will be followed up online
• Outcomes: Learners will have developed personal action plans to put into practice the skills they have acquired throughout the course and have organised the first follow-up session with the course leaders

Information about these sessions will be updated [HERE] once confirmed.

Target audience & pre-requisites

This course was prepared for ocean practitioners and institutions interested in becoming focal points to collaborate with the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing in building a network of recommended practices around good data management and sharing.

Participation will require:

Language of instruction

English and Spanish

Instructors and Organizers

Content for this course was provided by:

• Adam Leadbetter
• Rob Thomas
• Jan-Bart Calewaert
• Ana Carolina Mazzuco
• Taco de Bruin
• Peter Burger
• Margarita López-Velosa
• Other instructors from each region (to be confirmed) 

This training is organized by the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing in collaboration with the the Ocean Decade Coordination Unit and the UNESCO IOC OceanTeacher Global Academy (Programme Component of IODE).

Assessments and Certificate

This course contain a set of online multiple-question automated assessments to evaluate your learning, and a final action plan to be developed and implemented individually. Participants will be required to complete a pre and post self-assessment related to the course content, and be requested to fill out a feedback survey at the end of the course to reflect on your learning experience and identify areas for improvement. This will also provide valuable feedback for course teachers and organisers to enhance future training sessions. 

To receive a Certificate of Completion, learners must:

• Achieve a minimum score of 80% on all quizzes;
• Complete every lesson, activity, and assessment;
• Complete the mandatory pre-test and post-test;
• Develop and implement an action plan;
• Participate in online live sessions (75% attendance);
• Submit the required feedback form, which is mandatory for all OTGA courses.

After completion of the course, participants will be invited to join follow ups and monthly meetings with the DCO for Ocean Data Sharing to continue the network building and future training of other participants.

Technology requirements

To complete this course, participants should have access to:

• Computer with a modern operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
• Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari web browsers
• JavaScript and cookies enabled
• Broadband internet access (minimum bandwidth of 0.5 Mbps (Receive and Send)
• Speakers or headphones, Microphone
•  

Course duration and format

This course will be conducted in a blended format, through a combination of online self-paced activities, instructor led sessions and assessments, and hands-on work. The duration of the course (Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4 and related activities) is a total of 25 hours.

Live sessions schedule:

18 November 2025

16 December 2025

5 February  2026

5 March 2026

Note that the training course may be complemented by face-to-face in-person follow-up module - to be scheduled in 2026 - dates and venue to be confirmed by region.

Cost: This course has no tuition fees. 

How to participate

Participation in this training is invitation only, coordinated in collaboration with the National Committees, Coordination Offices and Centres of the Ocean Decade.

Contacts

• DCO Ocean Data Sharing: oceandatasharing@unesco.org 
• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat always using the name of the course as the email 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.

OceanExpert announcement: https://oceanexpert.org/event/4867

This 4-hour course is designed to empower ocean scientists by providing a comprehensive understanding and practical skills in using a Carbon Plankton Dynamics Virtual Laboratory (VLab), running in Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environment (VRE). Participants will learn how to explore carbon plankton data, patterns, and processes relevant to marine ecology using a virtual environment. Knowing that the carbon pump in marine ecosystems operates as a key mechanism for carbon dynamics, learning how to use a virtual carbon plankton model can provide support to enhance knowledge in marine life dynamics, as well as perform science-based decision-making. This course uses datasets and scenarios of the Belgian Part of the North Sea and the Gulf of Trieste to demonstrate the capabilities of the models, which can be applied and adapted for other regions and conditions.

The course aims to empower ocean scientists with a comprehensive understanding and practical skills in using a Virtual Laboratory (Vlab) on Carbon Plankton Dynamics within the Blue-Cloud VRE. By accessing various digital tools, you will be able to utilize models to study carbon plankton and apply them to make decisions related to the carbon pump mechanism based on data products and modelling outputs.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify key data collection processes and partners involved in research within the Belgian Part of the North Sea and the Gulf of Trieste and the development of the Carbon Plankton Dynamics Virtual Laboratory.
• Explain the importance of carbon plankton dynamics for scientific research, modeling, and oceanography.
• Define the purpose and functionalities, and the services provided by the Virtual Laboratory.
• Identify and utilize near-real-time data within the Virtual Laboratory for use in Nutrient–Phytoplankton–Zooplankton–Detritus (NPZD)-type models.
• Access relevant data from Blue-Cloud Data Discovery and Access service (DD&AS) 
• Format data files for use in the Virtual Laboratory
• Operate the Virtual Laboratory (VLab) on Carbon Plankton Dynamics to simulate and analyze phytoplankton dynamics in the specified regions.
• Analyze model results related to the contributions of bottom-up and top-down drivers by the RShiny App within the Virtual Laboratory.
• Quantify the relative contributions of bottom-up and top-down drivers in phytoplankton dynamics using the NPZD-type model within the Virtual Laboratory.
• Interpret marine ecosystem management decisions based on model outputs from the Virtual Laboratory (VLab).

Course content

• Module 1: Introduction to the Virtual Laboratory - This module introduces the Virtual Laboratory on Carbon Plankton Dynamics, its services, the relevance of carbon plankton dynamics, and key partners, focusing on their roles in data collection and modeling within the Belgian Part of the North Sea and Gulf of Trieste as a use case.

• Module 2: Data Collection - This module guides on the types of data needed for the Virtual Laboratory on Carbon Plankton Dynamics, methods to access data (DD&AS), and the process of building and formatting data files, focusing on data from the Belgian Part of the North Sea and Gulf of Trieste.

• Module 3: Discovering the Model - This module provides hands-on experience in operating the Virtual Laboratory on Carbon Plankton Dynamics using the handbook, focusing on how to use near-real-time data to run an NPZD-type model.

• Module 4: RShiny App - This module teaches participants how to use the RShiny App in the Virtual Laboratory on Carbon Plankton Dynamics, focusing on visualizing and interpreting data related to phytoplankton dynamics in the Belgian Part of the North Sea and Gulf of Trieste.

Target audience

• Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in marine and environmental sciences;
• IT professionals supporting research activities in scientific institutions; and
• Project managers and coordinators involved in research projects that utilise Virtual Research Environments (VREs).

Proficient in the following is required:

• The ability to be self-directed in learning new technology skills (e.g. following a step-by-step tutorial, online video help, or access to support to learn necessary skills)
• Basic computer skills
• Finding resources through search engines

Language of instruction

English

Instructors and Organizers

Content for this course was provided by:

• Steven Pint
• Matteo Bazzaro 
• Gianpiero Cossarini 
• Cyrielle Delvenne

This training is organized by the EU BlueCloud2026 project in collaboration with the UNESCO IOC OceanTeacher Global Academy, RTC Belgium, and contributions from project partners' experts (Flanders Marine Institute VLIZ, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) of Italy).

Blue-Cloud 2026 aims at a further evolution of this pilot ecosystem into a Federated European Ecosystem to deliver FAIR & Open data and analytical services, instrumental for deepening research of oceans, EU seas, coastal & inland waters. It develops a thematic marine extension to EOSC for open web-based science, serving the needs of the EU Blue Economy, Marine Environment and Marine Knowledge agendas.

Assessments and Certificate

This course contain a set of multiple-question automated assessments to evaluate your learning. Participants will be required to complete a pre and post self-assessment related to the course content, and be requested to fill out a feedback survey at the end of the course to reflect on your learning experience and identify areas for improvement. This will also provide valuable feedback for course teachers and organisers to enhance future training sessions.

To receive a Certificate of Completion, learners must:

• Achieve a minimum score of 70% on all quizzes.
• Complete every lesson, activity, and assessment.
• Complete the mandatory pre-test and post-test.
• Submit the required feedback form, which is mandatory for all OTGA courses.

Technology requirements

To complete this course, participants should have access to:

• Computer with a modern operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
• Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari web browsers
• JavaScript and cookies enabled
• Broadband internet access (minimum bandwidth of 0.5 Mbps (Receive and Send)
• Speakers or headphones, Microphone
•  

Course duration and format

For this first round, the course will be available online between 17 September 2025 and 31 July 2026. The estimated time to complete the self-paced course is approximately 4 hours. 

Cost: This course has no tuition fees. 

The training course is Funded by the European Union, with additional support from UNESCO IOC.

How to enrol

Please register on the OceanExpert website (www.oceanexpert.org). Once your OceanExpert account is approved (this is not done immediately), you can self-enrol in the course. If you already have an OceanExpert account, you can self-enrol in the course using your OceanExpert username and password.

First log-in OceanTeacher, then access the course page and click on self-enrolment. The enrolment key for all courses is VLab3*2025EN1

Contacts

• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat always using the name of the course as the email 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.

OceanExpert announcement: https://oceanexpert.org/event/4858

Summary

This 8-hour course is designed to empower ocean scientists by providing comprehensive understanding and practical skills in using the Marine Environmental Indicators Virtual Laboratory running in Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environments (VREs). Evaluating environmental conditions of marine areas is crucial to provide data-based support for decision-making in ocean management. In this course, the participants will learn about important and widely used marine environmental indicators: 1) Marine Heatwave (MHW), 2) Ocean Heat Content (OHC), 3) Trophic Index (TRIX), and 4) Storm Severity Index (SSI).

The general goal is to equip ocean scientists with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate, utilize, and customize the Marine Environmental Indicators Virtual Lab for assessing marine environmental conditions and supporting ocean management decisions.

This course is organized by CMCC, INGV, OGS, KNMI, and VLIZ, with the support of the UNESCO IOC OceanTeacher Global Academy (OTGA).

Format and Duration

This is a fully online, self-paced course with no synchronous sessions. The estimated time required to complete the course is approximately 4 hours of asynchronous activities, including video lectures, readings, quizzes, and practical exercises.

Venue

Online

Language of Instruction: English

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this training, learners will be able to:

• Use the Virtual Laboratory within a Virtual Research Environment
• Explain the relevance of marine environmental indicators
• Calculate the Marine Heatwave (MHW) indicator
• Interpret spatial trends of the Marine Heatwave (MHW) indicator
• Explain the Ocean Heat Content (OHC) indicator
• Analyze spatial trends of the Ocean Heat Content (OHC) indicator
• Identify potential eutrophication hotspots using the Trophic Index (TRIX)
• Understand and compute the Storm Severity Index (SSI), interpret its spatial and temporal patterns, and analyze storm impacts using Jupyter Notebooks and cloud-based tools within the Virtual Research Environment
• Use the MEI Web Application to generate environmental indicators

Course Content

The course is composed of six online modules:

• Module 1: Introduction This module provides a comprehensive overview of marine environmental indicators, delving into their significance in assessing ocean health and their application in informed decision-making. Participants will learn about the crucial role these indicators play in evaluating marine ecosystems and gain an understanding of the BlueCloud VLab and its partners involved in this initiative.
• Module 2: Marine Heatwave (MHW) This module explores the computation of the Marine Heatwave indicator, providing insights into its relevance for understanding climate change effects on sea surface temperature. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the data sources used to calculate this indicator, and learn to navigate and utilize the provided notebook for practical analysis and visualization.  
• Module 3: Ocean Heat Content (OHC) This module provides a thorough exploration of the Ocean Heat Content indicator, offering a comprehensive understanding of its significance as a key metric in assessing global climate change and its impact on ocean dynamics. Participants will delve into the various data sources that inform this indicator, and acquire practical skills in utilizing the provided notebook for in-depth analysis and interpretation of OHC data.
• Module 4: Trophic Index (TRIX) This module examines the impact and application of the Trophic Index, focusing on its utility as a key indicator of eutrophication and overall water quality in marine environments. Participants will be introduced to the relevant data sources that are used to calculate the Trophic Index, and will gain hands-on experience using the provided notebook for data analysis and informed interpretation of Trophic Index values. 
• Module 5: Storm Severity Index (SSI) This module delves into the impact of the Storm Severity Index, investigating its role as a crucial measure of coastal vulnerability and its implications for risk assessment and management. Participants will explore the data sources used in calculating the SSI and gain the expertise needed to apply the provided notebook for practical calculations and informed interpretation of storm-related impacts. In addition users will be taught how to run the Storm Severity Index on the Cloud Computing Platform.
• Module 6: Using the MEI Web Application  This module provides a practical introduction to the MEI Web Application, which allows users to compute and explore all Marine Environmental Indicators through an intuitive graphical interface. This module focuses on how to use the web app to run the same analyses covered in the previous modules using Jupyter Notebookin, in  a simpler, code-free environment. Participants will learn how to navigate the web interface, select indicators, configure parameters, and interpret the generated outputs. 

Target Audience

This course was prepared for researchers, data scientists, and academic professionals involved in ocean science and related fields who are interested in enhancing research capabilities through advanced digital tools and collaborative platforms. It is also suitable for:

• Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in marine and environmental sciences
• IT professionals supporting research activities in scientific institutions
• Project managers and coordinators involved in research projects that utilize Virtual Research Environments (VREs)

Prior experience with D4Science or Virtual Research Environments and scientific programming may be required.

Organizers

• CMCC https://www.cmcc.it, https://oceanexpert.org/institution/15381
• INGV https://www.ingv.it, https://oceanexpert.org/institution/6939
• OGS https://www.ogs.it/en, https://oceanexpert.org/institution/6941
• KNMI https://www.knmi.nl/home, https://oceanexpert.org/institution/12233
• VLIZ https://vliz.be/nl, https://oceanexpert.org/institution/6223 

Facilitators

• Francesco Palermo: CMCC (https://oceanexpert.org/expert/77906)
• Rafael De Menezes: CMCC (https://oceanexpert.org/expert/30900)
• Simona Simoncelli: INGV (https://oceanexpert.org/expert/22199)
• Enrico Baglione: INGV (https://oceanexpert.org/expert/56170)
• Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez: OGS (https://oceanexpert.org/expert/37482)
• Jan Willem Noteboom: KNMI (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-7865)
• Marco Lettere: Nubisware

Registration, Costs, and Technological Requirements

This course has no tuition fee and is open to everyone. No application is required, self-enrolment with open registrations.

To follow this course, participants need access to:

• A computer with a modern operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
• Latest version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari
• JavaScript and cookies enable
• dBroadband internet access (minimum 0.5 Mbps)
• Speakers or headphones, microphone

Prior experience with D4Science or Virtual Research Environments and scientific programming may be required for some activities. Additional resources can be found at: https://blue-cloud.org/

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

How to enrol

Please register on the OceanExpert website (www.oceanexpert.org). Once your OceanExpert account is approved (this is not done immediately), you can self-enrol in the course. If you already have an OceanExpert account, you can self-enrol in the course using your OceanExpert username and password.

First log-in OceanTeacher, then access the course page and click on self-enrolment. The enrolment key for all courses is VLab4*2026EN1

Assessment & Certificate

This course contains a set of multiple-question automated assessments to evaluate your learning. You will be required to complete a pre and post self-assessment related to the course content, and be requested to fill out a feedback survey at the end of the course to reflect on your learning experience and identify areas for improvement. This will also provide valuable feedback for course teachers and organisers to enhance future training sessions.

Note: All quizzes are graded automatically, and the grades are returned to you immediately.

A certificate will be awarded to all participants that successfully completed all the lessons, activities and assessments. The passmark is 80%. Responding to the feedback survey is a requirement for certificates to be awarded in all OTGA courses.

Contacts

For course organisation, please contact: Cyrielle Delvenne; cyrielle.delvenne@vliz.be

For additional questions, please contact the OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org), always using the name of the course as email 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.

Summary

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.

Details: https://oceanexpert.org/event/4367

Course description:

The IOC of UNESCO GLOSS Sea Level Training for North Africa is a five-day technical capacity development course designed to strengthen national and regional capabilities in sea-level observation, data management, and applied sea-level science within the North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean region, with a particular focus on North African Member States. The course aims to provide participants with practical and theoretical knowledge required to operate, maintain, and sustain tide gauge stations contributing to the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS).

Core content include:

• Sea-level measurement technologies, station installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting

• Data telemetry and operational data exchange with the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF) and other international data centres

• Sea-level data processing, quality control (including automated QC using the IOC SLSMF API), and interpretation

• Fundamental sea-level science, including tides, surges, seiches, tsunamis, sea-level rise, and vertical land motion

• Practical field exercises, including site visits to operational tide gauge stations and basic surveying and levelling techniques (optical and GNSS).

Audience:

The training is intended for professionals from IOC Member States in North Africa and the NEAM region who are currently involved, or expected to be involved, in sea-level observation and data management activities.

Specifically, the target audience includes:

• Technicians responsible for the operation and maintenance of tide gauge stations

• Hydrographers and surveyors working with coastal and water level measurements

• Data analysts involved in processing and quality control of sea-level data

• Early-career or entry-level oceanographers engaged in sea-level or coastal observation programmes

Participants are typically affiliated with national oceanographic, hydrographic, or maritime institutions contributing, or planning to contribute, sea-level data to IOC systems such as GLOSS and the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF).

Learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the IOC of UNESCO GLOSS Sea Level Training for North Africa, participants will be able to:

• Identify and describe the main sea-level measurement technologies used in GLOSS tide gauge stations and explain their operational strengths and limitations.

• Configure and manage data telemetry systems to enable timely transmission of sea-level data from national stations to the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF) and other relevant international data centres.

• Apply standard sea-level data processing and quality control procedures, including the use of automated quality control tools and the IOC SLSMF API.

• Interpret sea-level time series (mareograms) to identify and distinguish physical phenomena such as tides, seiches, storm surges, tsunamis, and longer-term sea-level variability.

• Perform basic tidal analysis and explain the concept and use of tidal datums in hydrographic, oceanographic, and maritime applications.

• Explain the role of vertical land motion and site stability in sea-level observations and integrate levelling and GNSS information into station assessments.

• Demonstrate practical field skills through site visits and hands-on exercises, including basic surveying and inspection of operational tide gauge infrastructure.

Course content:

The training combines theoretical lectures, practical exercises, system demonstrations, and a field visit to ensure participants gain applied operational skills in sea-level observation and data management.

1. Introduction and Regional Context

• Overview of the GLOSS and its role within IOC programmes

•  Network reports and experience-sharing by participating Member States

• Regional sea-level monitoring challenges and priorities in North Africa and the NEAM region

2. Sea-Level Measurement Technologies

•  Overview of sea-level measurement principles

• Types of tide gauges and sensors used in GLOSS stations

• Strengths, limitations, and suitability of different technologies for operational monitoring

3. Tide Gauge Installation, Operation, and Maintenance

• Anatomy and components of a tide gauge station

• Installation requirements and best practices

• Routine maintenance procedures and operational checks

• Troubleshooting common technical problems affecting station performance

4. Data Telemetry and International Data Exchange

• Data transmission systems and telemetry options

• Establishing and maintaining data delivery links with the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF)

• Overview of other international and GLOSS sea-level data centres

• Practical troubleshooting session to establish or improve data links

5. Sea-Level Data Processing and Quality Control

• Introduction to sea-level data formats and processing workflows

• Manual and automated quality control procedures

• Use of the IOC SLSMF API for automated quality control

• Practical exercises using real sea-level datasets

6. Sea-Level Science and Data Interpretation

• Interpretation of mareograms and sea-level records

• Identification of physical processes affecting sea level, including: Tides/Seiches/ Storm/surges/Tsunamis/ Sea-level rise and variability /  Overview of tidal analysis methods and tidal datums

7. Vertical Land Motion and Site Stability

• Concepts of vertical land motion (VLM) and its impact on sea-level observations

• Theory of levelling methods (optical levelling and GNSS)

• Integration of GNSS and levelling data with sea-level observations

• Overview of GNSS and VLM data centres supporting sea-level monitoring

8. Practical Field Activities

• Site visit to an operational tide gauge station

• Hands-on inspection of station components and surroundings

• Basic surveying and levelling exercises in the field

• Application of learned concepts in a real operational environment

Prerequisites:

• No prior specialised knowledge of tides or advanced sea-level science is required

• Basic understanding of oceanographic or tidal concepts is desirable

• Basic computer skills are required, including the ability to work with digital data and software tools

• Some familiarity with water level data processing requirements or operational measurement environments is expected

• Willingness and ability to participate in hands-on fieldwork, including a site visit to a tide gauge station and basic survey exercises

Language of instruction: English

Instructors: 

Angela Hibbert

David Sydney Jones

Jeff Pugh

Technology requirements:

Participants should be able to:

• Use a personal computer confidently, including basic operating system functions (file management, installing or running software, connecting to networks)

• Work with digital datasets, including opening, viewing, and managing sea-level or time‑series data files

• Use common productivity software, such as spreadsheets and document viewers, to review, organize, and inspect data outputs

• Access and use web-based platforms and online tools, including browser-based data portals and APIs demonstrated during the training (e.g. IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility tools)

Technical Skills:

• Basic knowledge of water level data processing requirements, sufficient to follow instruction on data quality control and analysis workflows

• Familiarity with digital communication and data transmission concepts, supporting understanding of telemetry and data exchange with international data centres

• Willingness and ability to engage in hands-on technical sessions, including practical exercises using IOC tools, APIs, and real sea-level datasets

re-requisites: not applicable

Selection criteria:

• Professional relevance

Candidates must be currently involved, or expected to be involved, in sea‑level observation, tide gauge operation, or water‑level data analysis within a national oceanographic, hydrographic, or maritime institution

• Institutional role and applicability

Priority is given to nominees whose responsibilities allow them to directly apply the training outcomes to the operation, maintenance, or data management of tide gauge stations contributing to GLOSS and IOC systems

• Regional eligibility

Applicants must be nominated by eligible IOC Member States from North Africa and the NEAM region, as specified in the call (Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia)

• Basic computer skills

• Some familiarity with water‑level data processing or measurement environments

• An ability to participate fully in hands‑on technical and field activities

• Sufficient working knowledge of English, as the training will be conducted entirely in English

• Commitment to full participation

• Availability to attend the entire onsite training period (18–22 May 2026), including practical sessions and the site visit

• Gender and geographic balance (where applicable)

• Selection may take into account equitable geographic representation and gender balance, in line with IOC capacity development principles

 Learner assessment:

Written and oral assessments throughout the training course.

Duration: 37 hours

Certificate: 

A certificate will be issued at the end of the training course - details to be defined 

Venue:

Innovocean campus- Unesco/IOC Project office for IODE - Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Oostende- Belgium.

Organizers:

• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO‑IOC)

• Ex-employees of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), United Kingdom

• Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)

• UNESCO‑IOC Project Office for IODE (Ostend, Belgium)

• CoastWAVE 2.0 Project (DG ECHO, co‑funding)

Contacts:

For course organization, please contact: [TO BE UPDATED]

For additional questions, please contact OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@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.

The course provides an introduction to the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). This includes best practices in marine biogeographic data management, data publication, data access, data analysis and data visualisation. With the numerous datasets being generated through various projects and some old data yet to be captured in the database, this training provides an opportunity to manage this wealth of scientific knowledge.

This training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. >The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

NOTE: The first edition of the course (19-23 April 2021) is full.

This free training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free online training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free online training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free online training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free online training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

NOTE: This is edition September 2021

This free online training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This free online training course is suitable for anyone responsible for collecting or managing marine environmental data in the public sector, industry or for education or research. Familiarity with different marine data types, and how data is acquired and used, would be helpful but not essential. Prior knowledge or practical experience of data management is not required. The course can be taken as a whole, or attendees can select modules according to two streams: Governance; Practical MEDIN.

This course provides an overview and hands on GIS applications pertaining to coastal zone using ArcGIS software. This comprises the data acquisition, processing, analysis and interpretation of spatial data. The applications of this course are aimed at producing inputs useful for the coastal zone management.

Aims and Objectives
•To provide an introduction to GIS for marine applications
•Utilization of open source spatial data
•To provide hands on GIS applications pertaining to the coastal zone

Learning Outcomes
•Knowledge and understanding of GIS, spatial data, raster and vector models
•Core tasks involved in the GIS analysis process including data acquisition, manipulation and analysis, and presentation and output
•Core functionality of ArcMap, Arc Catalogue and Arc Toolbox
•Creating and editing spatial data
•Awareness of coastal GIS data and applications

Summary

This blended training course, titled in Spanish “Monitoreo de la contaminación por microplásticos en aguas costeras: del muestreo y análisis a los datos”, aims to build the capacity of upper secondary school teachers and boat operators in the Comunidad Valenciana to participate in harmonised microplastic monitoring in coastal waters through the Erasmus Maris initiative. 

The course combines online theoretical learning with practical field, laboratory, and data-management training. Participants will learn the full monitoring chain: understanding microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, collecting surface-water samples using a manta net, processing and analysing samples in the laboratory following standard operating procedures, applying quality assurance and quality control principles, managing data and metadata, and uploading validated information to the MARIS database. 

The course is designed to empower teachers to implement microplastic monitoring activities with their students and to contribute to a wider citizen-science and environmental monitoring network. Boat operators will be trained to support safe and harmonised sampling operations at sea. The training includes online lessons and quizzes, practical laboratory work with reference material, boat-based sampling demonstrations, and hands-on use of the MARIS data portal. 

Participants will learn the full monitoring chain: understanding microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, collecting surface-water samples using a manta net, processing and analysing samples in the laboratory following standard operating procedures, applying quality assurance and quality control principles, managing data and metadata, and uploading validated information to the MARIS database.

The course is organised by ASE / Ayam Sailing Europe and the University of Alicante, implemented in the framework of the Erasmus Maris initiative, with the support of the UNESCO IOC OceanTeacher Global Academy (OTGA).

Needs and priorities

Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern in coastal and marine environments. Reliable monitoring requires harmonised sampling, analysis, data management, and quality-control procedures. At the same time, effective microplastic monitoring requires data collection over wider geographical areas and repeated time periods, which is difficult to achieve through conventional scientific monitoring alone. Citizen science can help address this gap by expanding monitoring capacity through trained local actors. Schools and teachers are especially relevant in this context: once trained, teachers can support recurring monitoring activities with students, embed ocean literacy and environmental science into education, and contribute harmonised data and metadata to a shared monitoring system. Local maritime actors further strengthen the approach by supporting safe and standardised sampling operations.  

This course responds to the need for practical capacity development in coastal microplastic monitoring in Spain, with a specific focus on the Comunidad Valenciana. The training supports teachers and boat operators to become local actors in a structured monitoring system. By combining scientific protocols with educational implementation, the course strengthens the capacity of schools to contribute to ocean literacy, citizen science, and evidence-based environmental action. 

The course contributes to IOC capacity development priorities by: 

• providing applied training for teachers and local operators; 
• supporting access to standardised scientific methods and digital tools; 
• promoting ocean literacy and environmental education in secondary schools; 
• strengthening local capacity to generate comparable environmental data; 
• supporting the use of harmonised data and metadata systems for future integration with wider marine data infrastructures. 

The course also supports the objectives of the Erasmus Maris initiative by preparing teachers and local partners to collect, analyse, document, and upload microplastic monitoring data following common procedures. 

Format and Duration

This is a blended course combining online self-paced learning with two days of synchronous practical training.

Online component (self-paced)

Lessons and quizzes on microplastic pollution, sampling and analysis methods, standard operating procedures, data management, unique identifiers, and MARIS/EMODnet integration. Approximately 4 hours. Participants may complete the online quizzes during or after the practical training days.

Onsite practical training:

• Day 1 - 22 May 2026, 16:00–20:00 CEST: Laboratory training and MARIS database/data-entry training. Venue: IES LA MAR, Jávea, Spain.
• Day 2 - 23 May 2026, 09:30–13:30 CEST: Manta-net sampling practice, online course/quizzes, and final debriefing. Venues: Club Náutico Dénia and IES Sorts de la Mar, Dénia, Spain.

Total estimated workload: approximately 14 hours (10 hours synchronous + 4 hours asynchronous).

⚠️ Attendance at both practical sessions is mandatory for certification.

Venue

• IES LA MAR, Jávea, Spain - laboratory training
• Club Náutico Dénia, Dénia, Spain - boat-based manta-net sampling
• IES Sorts de la Mar, Dénia, Spain - online quizzes and computer-based work

Language of Instruction: Spanish. The online lessons and quizzes are currently in English; a Spanish translation may be made available before the course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the main sources, pathways, and environmental relevance of microplastic pollution in aquatic and coastal environments
• Describe how microplastics are distributed in surface waters and sediments, and why harmonised monitoring is needed
• Apply the Erasmus Maris manta-net sampling protocol for surface-water microplastic monitoring
• Record essential sampling metadata including GPS coordinates, environmental conditions, sea state, and sampling duration
• Process microplastic samples in the laboratory following the Erasmus Maris standard operating procedure
• Carry out main laboratory steps: sample preparation, digestion, density separation, filtration, visual counting, and optional Nile Red staining
• Understand the purpose of reference material and QA/QC checks
• Use the MARIS database and data portal to enter monitoring data and metadata in a structured way
• Explain the importance of unique identifiers, standardised formats, and traceability for environmental data management
• Implement Erasmus Maris / M.A.R.I.S. monitoring activities with students and local partners after the course

Course Content

Online

1. Definition of microplastics and distinction between primary and secondary microplastics
2. Microplastics in aquatic environments: transport, distribution, density, and accumulation
3. Pathways through which microplastics enter aquatic environments
4. Sampling and analysis methods for microplastic assessment
5. Standard operating procedures for microplastic analysis
6. Challenges of integrating data from multiple sources
7. Data management approaches: Back-End Consolidation and Front-End Responsibility
8. Unique identifiers and data structure in the MARIS monitoring system
9. Integration of MARIS data into wider marine data systems, including EMODnet

Onsite

• Welcome and group distribution
• Delivery and explanation of sampling protocols
• Boat-based manta-net sampling demonstration and practice
• Recording of sampling metadata and environmental conditions
• Laboratory training and MARIS database/data-entry training
• Introduction to the UNESCO/OTGA online microplastics course and quizzes
• Final debriefing and explanation of next steps for certification and post-course monitoring

Target Audience

The course is primarily designed for upper secondary school teachers from the Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, interested in implementing microplastic monitoring activities with their students. A small group of boat operators supporting sampling activities are also included.

Expected participants: approximately 60 upper secondary school teachers and approximately 4 boat operators.

Basic science background recommended. No advanced laboratory experience required.

Organizers

• ASE / Ayam Sailing Europe
• University of Alicante

Implemented in the framework of the Erasmus Maris initiative, with the support of the UNESCO IOC OceanTeacher Global Academy (OTGA).

Facilitators

• Kamel Labibes - Ayam Sailing Europe (ASE)
• Carlos Sanz Lázaro - University of Alicante
• Raquel Sánchez Romero - University of Alicante
• Alba Benito Kaesbach - University of Alicante
• Antonia Trompeta - ASE / Ayam Sailing Europe, Erasmus Maris Educational Network Coordinator, Valencian Community

Registration, Costs, and Technological Requirements

There are no tuition fees for participants. Travel, accommodation, and any personal costs are the responsibility of participants or their institutions.

Participants need access to:

• A computer or tablet for online lessons and quizzes
• A web browser and ability to use an online learning platform
• Basic familiarity with spreadsheets or data-entry forms (useful but not mandatory)
• A smartphone or GPS-enabled device (useful for recording coordinates during sampling)
• Access to the MARIS data portal

No advanced software installation is required.

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

Assessment & Certificate

• To receive the certificate, participants must:
• Attend the mandatory practical sessions on 22 and 23 May 2026
• Complete the required online lessons and quizzes
• Actively participate in sampling, laboratory, and data-management activities
• Follow the Erasmus Maris sampling and analysis SOPs
• Correctly process and analyse reference samples within an accepted recovery range
• Correctly upload complete data and metadata to the MARIS database
• Complete the mandatory course evaluation/feedback form

Contacts

For course organisation, please contact: Dr Kamel Labibes - coordination@ayamsailing.eu

For additional questions, please contact the OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org), always using the name of the course as email 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.

This online self-paced course aims to support ocean practitioners in understanding how effective data management and ocean observations underpin evidence-based Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP). It highlights the critical role that reliable, accessible, and well-managed data play in informing planning processes, supporting decision-making, and enabling sustainable use of marine and coastal areas.  

 Building on internationally recognized practices and guidance developed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and MSPglobal initiative, this course introduces fundamental concepts of data, metadata, and data management relevant to MSP, and suggests relevant tools and services for MSP practitioners. Participants will explore the role of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) as key enablers for data sharing, interoperability, and collaboration, and will examine why SDIs are particularly beneficial for MSP initiatives. Practical insights are provided on how SDIs can be established, maintained, and continuously improved to meet evolving planning needs.  

 Additionally, the course introduces key elements of ocean observations and their relevance for MSP, including an overview of observation systems, data types, and monitoring approaches. The basics of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) are also included, explaining how these standardized variables support consistent, comparable, and policy-relevant information for marine planning. Participants will learn how to identify, access, and assess suitable ocean observation data to support specific MSP objectives and contexts. The course also highlights emerging trends and future directions in data management, SDIs, and ocean observations, and discusses implications for the evolving practice of MSP.  

Needs and priority

Format and Duration

This is a self-paced online course, comprising various learning resources, activities and assessments, with a total of 25 hours estimated for completion.

Language of instruction: English

Learning outcomes

Course content

The course is composed of four online modules: 

Module 1: Introduction to data and its importance to MSP

This module provides an introduction to MSP context, including the role of data in ocean management, fundamental data management principles and practices, the basics of spatial data, and principles of data security and responsible data sharing.

Module 2: Spatial Data Infrastructure for MSP

This module introduces Spatial Data Infrastructures and their role in supporting MSP, including its main components, creation and maintenance, institutional arrangements, stakeholder engagement, and capacity development.

Module 3: Ocean Observations for MSP

This module provides a comprehensive overview of ocean observation and its integration into MSP, within ocean data collection, management, coordination, and application to support evidence-based decisions. It also includes key concepts, technologies, frameworks, and practical aspects.

Module 4: Emerging trends in ocean observation for MSP

This module covers emerging topics of global importance, such as advances in sensor technology and autonomous systems applications, data availability and resolution, the Digital Twins of the Ocean, big data and artificial intelligence, global cooperation, transboundary marine spatial planning, and emerging ocean industries data.

Target audience

This course was developed by MSPglobal, through IOC’s Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section, Ocean Observations and Services Section, and the International Oceanographic Data & Information Exchange Programme.

Facilitators

This course was developed by: 

• Annette Scheffer [OE profile]
• Niccolò Bassan [OE profile]
• Michele Quesada da Silva [OE profile]

We also acknowledge the contribution of different experts:

• Andrej Abramic [OE profile]
• Carolina García Valencia [OE profile]
• Dawn Wright [OE profile]
• Louis Demargne [OE profile]
• Manuel Frias [OE profile]
• Maeva Tesan [OE profile]
• Nathalie Tonné [OE profile]
• Pascal Derycke [OE profile]
• Stefano Menegon [OE profile]
• Veronica Nieves [OE profile]

Registration, costs, and technological requirements

This course is offered on a continuous basis, with open registrations as yearly cohorts, with no tuition fees.

To follow this course, participants shall have: 

Assessment & Certificate

This is a self-taught course that includes quizzes designed to help learners assess their own learning at regular intervals. In order to successfully complete the course and award a Certificate at the end, the following is mandatory:

• Complete every lesson, activity, and assessment;
• Complete all quizzes (80% minimum score, maximum 3 attempts, 40 minutes time limit for each attempt, questions may differ between attemps);
• Complete the mandatory pre-test and post-test; and
• Submit the required feedback form, which is mandatory for all OTGA courses.

Contacts

For any questions, please contact OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@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.

Additional acknowledgement

This course was developed based on the MSPglobal Data Toolboxes Volume 1“How to develop a Spatial Data Infrastructure for MSP” and Volume 2 “How to use Ocean Observations for MSP”. We gratefully acknowledge all contributors who made these publications possible.

We thank the external partners who granted use of images/visuals to enhance the materials of this course, including: British Antarctic Survey; European Space Agency (ESA) / ATG medialab; Clive McMahon.

This 2 week-long module on Ocean Data Management is part of the Nippon Foundation-POGO Centre of Excellence (NF-POGO CofE) and hosted by AWI (cohort 2023). This module is part of an intensive training course for young professionals at the post-graduate level, ten months in duration, with an intake of ten trainees per year. The course is sponsored by the Nippon Foundation and hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to a wide variety of earth science datasets, formats and analysis software. Students will learn and practice methods using a common ocean area, and they are expected to create a personal project of data products for a marine region of their own choosing. Personal projects are presented by the students at the end of the course.

This 2 week-long module on Ocean Data Management is part of the Nippon Foundation-POGO Centre of Excellence (NF-POGO CofE) and hosted by AWI (cohort 2022). This module is part of an intensive training course for young professionals at the post-graduate level, ten months in duration, with an intake of ten trainees per year. The course is sponsored by the Nippon Foundation and hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to a wide variety of earth science datasets, formats and analysis software. Students will learn and practice methods using a common ocean area, and they are expected to create a personal project of data products for a marine region of their own choosing. Personal projects are presented by the students at the end of the course.

This 2 week-long module on Ocean Data Management is part of the Nippon Foundation-POGO Centre of Excellence (NF-POGO CofE) and hosted by AWI (cohort 2021). This module is part of an intensive training course for young professionals at the post-graduate level, ten months in duration, with an intake of ten trainees per year. The course is sponsored by the Nippon Foundation and hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to a wide variety of earth science datasets, formats and analysis software. Students will learn and practice methods using a common ocean area, and they are expected to create a personal project of data products for a marine region of their own choosing. Personal projects are presented by the students at the end of the course.

Venue

Marine Institute of Memorial University. St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada

Learning outcomes

As a result of this course, CofE scholars will acquire basic knowledge to:

• Obtaining relevant oceanographic variables such as ocean surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, surface currents,
• Visualising and developing products to support initial, analysis and assessment of meso to large-scale marine and coastal ecosystems. 

Target audience

The training is open to the 10 CofE scholars. More information on the training programme at https://www.ofi.ca/programs/centre/program

Pre-requisites:

Participants must:

• Have prior knowledge of oceanography;

• Bring their own laptop;

• A working knowledge of English.

Course content

Module 1: Introduction to Ocean Observation 

• Importance of observational oceanography and the Global Ocean Observing System
• Platforms for collecting and visualising oceanographic data

Module 2: Defining Area of Interest & Folder structure

• Selection and delimitation of area of interest.
• Organisation of folder structure and file names

Module 3:  Ocean Data View & World Ocean Data database

• The World Ocean Database (WOD), select and download WOD data
• The Ocean Data View (ODV), download and install ODV
• Create data collection on ODV
• Import and analyse WOD data on ODV
• Quality control on ODV
• Prepare and export products on ODV

• Geographic Coordination System and Basic GIS file formats
• QGIS, download and install, basic layout

Module 5: Creating a GIS project with basic marine and auxiliary data

• Sources of basic, auxiliary data sources for marine GIS
• Import shape and raster format data into the GIS
• Shape and raster layers clipping
• Prepare map figure

• Obtain Essential Ocean Variables from diverse portals
• GIS tools such as interpolation, clipping with masks, extract isolines from raster, raster calculator, derive vectors from scalar components

Module 7: Online visualisation of oceanographic products 

• Acquaint with oceanographic data portals and their basic tools for plotting and consulting oceanographic parameters of interest
• Export products (figures, plots, data, GIS format files)

Language of instruction: English

Duration, Synchronous Sessions, and Format

The training will take place face-to-face between 24 to 28 November, 2025, with a duration of approximately 35 hours.

Live sessions are planned from Monday to Friday, from 9:00-12:30 and 13:30-17:00.

The course has an online learning component to complement the learning activities and assessments. Live online sessions may be broadcasted if one or more scholars are not able to be present on-site.

Instructors

Lilian Anne Krug (POGO)

Organizers

The course provides an introduction to the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). This includes best practices in marine biogeographic data management, data publication, data access, data analysis and data visualisation.

Aims and Objectives

• Reinforce and expand the OBIS network in the South-East Asian Region
• Increase awareness on international standards and best practices related to marine biogeographic data management
• Increase the amount and quality of open access biodiversity data published through OBIS and its OBIS nodes
• Increase the use of data from OBIS for research, species conservation and area-based management applications for sustainable development

El presente curso se presenta como una oportunidad para actualizar la información acerca de los formatos y estándares que se utilizan en OBIS.

OBIS se encuentra en un trayecto de renovación y mejora de ciertos procedimientos, especialmente los que se refieren a los controles de calidad de los datos suministrados. Durante el presente curso se expondrán conceptos y procedimientos sobre: usos de la plataforma OBIS, procedimientos para organizar los datos según ciertos estándres y formatos, ¿cómo publicar datos en OBIS? y cuáles son las mejores prácticas para el aprovechamiento de los datos que se encuentran en OBIS.

Training the OBIS nodes and the trainers (at the OBIS nodes and OceanTeacher regional training centres) was considered a top priority at the last SG-OBIS meeting. The training will include: 

1. The application of ratified Darwin Core terms 
   
2. OBIS-ENV-DATA standard (combining sampling events, occurrences, abiotic+ biotic measurements and sampling facts). 
   
3. QC tools (including the OBIS tools R package: https://github.com/iobis/obistools) ;
   
4. Data publication (IPT), including metadata management 
   
5. Data access and visualization (including the OBIS R package: https://github.com/iobis/robis) ;
   
6. There will be time for discussions and tackling specific use cases including output.
   

This training course is aimed at researchers at the post-graduate level and provides a comprehensive introduction to a variety of marine datasets and formats and the use of software for synthesis and analysis of marine data. The importance of good research data management practices and the role of researchers will also be highlighted. Personal projects are presented by the students at the end of the course.