OceanTeacher Global Academy

Learning goals

• Gain understanding of the EMODnet Biology project and how it interlinks with other European and international initiatives in the field of biodiversity knowledge.
• Recognize the importance of sharing biological data, taking into account the FAIR principles.
• Develop skills to correctly format biological data to EMODnet Biology and EurOBIS formats.
• Gain knowledge on the required quality control steps and on the importance of interoperability.

Target audience

Anyone interested in marine biodiversity data.

This is a self-taught course that includes quizzes designed to help learners assess their own learning at regular intervals.

How to enroll

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

First log in OceanTeacher, then access the course page and click on self-enrollment.

The enrolment key is EMODNETBio**2023

For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) or the EMODnet biology secretariat bio@emodnet.eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(bio@emodnet.eu) always using the name of the course as email subject.

There are no tuition fees. 

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

El curso brinda un contexto sobre las Áreas Marinas Protegidas - AMP a nivel global, su importancia, su situación para Latinoamérica y frente a amenazas como el cambio climático, en el marco del CDB, Marco de Biodiversidad Post 2020, los objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible 13 y 14 y el Decenio de las ciencias oceánicas. Abarca los temas de bases conceptuales sobre áreas marinas protegidas, planeación, manejo, gobernanza, monitoreo y desarrollo de estrategias para el desarrollo de actividades sostenibles al interior de las AMP, adaptación al cambio climático, entre otros. Busca también una retroalimentación por parte de todos los estudiantes de acuerdo con sus experiencias y entrenamiento adquirido en temas de conservación y manejo, para promover el desarrollo de metodologías que orienten hacia el manejo efectivo de las AMP.

This training course will provide and introduction to sample collection and sorting, including taxonomy and processing for DNA extraction, eDNA and qPCR analyses, as well as a quick guide on the use of the bioinformatics for sequence analysis to in-country (Fiji) managers and technical staff.

The ocean is intrinsically connected to our lives, our coast, our heritage, architecture, and to how our cities are planned. Ocean Literacy (OL) is the understanding of human influence on the ocean and the ocean’s influence on people. 

This course will provide architects, urban planners, marine planners, and designers with an overview of the importance of the ocean and how to consider it when planning and designing. It will showcase examples of how the ocean can be considered in diverse scales, from the design of a small product that can later connect to the ocean with its materials, the design of buildings and infrastructure that interact with the architecture and infrastructure and the overall planning of our cities, which have a deep interaction with our oceanic common systems. This training aims to provide professionals with diverse tools so they can consider sustainable ways to consider the ocean in their decision-making process.

This is a self-taught course that includes presentations, references and quizzes designed to help learners assess their own learning at regular intervals. In order to successfully complete the course and receive a Certificate, it is a requirement to complete all quizzes ((unlimited attempts allowed).

To enrol, please register on the OceanExpert website (www.oceanexpert.org). Once your OceanExpert account is Approved, you can self-enrol in the course. If you already have an OceanExpert account, you can self-enrol in the course using your OceanExpert user name and password.

The enrolment key is OL**2024

International Phytoplankton Intercomparison

Since 1993 the IOC has conducted training courses on harmful microalgae. The purpose has been to improve the taxonomic and identification skills of the participants for research purposes and for practical monitoring of harmful algal blooms.

From 2006 the IOC training in HAB identification has been offered within a new framework which gives accreditation. The present course includes now a practical exam at the end of the course with an IOC Certificate of Proficiency in Identification of Harmful Algae issued to participants who pass the exam. We know by experience that many of the more than 500 trainees we have had over the years have wished the courses to give accreditation, and in some countries, the IOC courses have become a reference for laboratories to be approved for carrying out regulatory monitoring for harmful microalgae.

The IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae, University of Copenhagen, Denmark is organizing the course. 

This training course is self-guided and designed to teach learners how to structure datasets to contribute to OBIS. The course will guide users step-by-step through the OBIS data life cycle, including: identifying an appropriate data structure, applying Darwin Core Archive formatting, conducting quality control steps, publishing data, and accessing data from OBIS.  Watch the video below for a brief overview and introduction by the course instructor, Elizabeth Lawrence.

Learning goals

• Understand Darwin Core (DwC) standards 
• Format datasets following DwC standards
• Publish datasets to OBIS using an IPT
• Access data that has been published to OBIS

Target audience

Anyone with marine biodiversity data interested in publishing data to OBIS, OBIS nodes, or those who need to review specific steps in the data publication process.

Learner assessment

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 all lessons in each Module of the course;
• complete all quizzes (80% minimum score for each quiz, unlimited attempts for each quiz, 30-minute time limit for each attempt);
• submit the assignments and receive a minimum grade of 80% or 'satisfactory' according to the exercise type.

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

Pre-requisites:

• a working knowledge of English
• background knowledge in biological and marine sciences
• basic computer skills (either Windows or Mac systems)
• 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)

Technology requirements

To complete this course, participants should have access to:

• Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari web browsers
• Access to internet

Course duration and format

The course will be delivered online between 2nd October 2023 and 16 February 2023. The estimated time to complete the self-paced course is approximately 32 hours.

To enrol, please register on the OceanExpert website (www.oceanexpert.org). Once your OceanExpert account is Approved, you can self-enrol in the course. If you already have an OceanExpert account, you can self-enrol in the course using your OceanExpert user name and password.

The enrolment key is OBIS*MASTERCLASS

The course is available until 16 February 2024. Enrolment is available until 1 February 2024

Any specific questions about this course please contact: the OBIS secretariat (helpdesk@obis.org) always using the name of the course as email subject.

This training course has been developed with financial support from NORAD and LifeWatch ERIC.

El curso brinda un contexto sobre las Áreas Marinas Protegidas - AMP a nivel global, su importancia, su situación para Latinoamérica y frente a amenazas como el cambio climático, en el marco del CDB, Marco de Biodiversidad Post 2020, los objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible 13 y 14 y el Decenio de las ciencias oceánicas. Abarca los temas de bases conceptuales sobre áreas marinas protegidas, planeación, manejo, gobernanza, monitoreo y desarrollo de estrategias para el desarrollo de actividades sostenibles al interior de las AMP, adaptación al cambio climático, entre otros. Busca también una retroalimentación por parte de todos los estudiantes de acuerdo con sus experiencias y entrenamiento adquirido en temas de conservación y manejo, para promover el desarrollo de metodologías que orienten hacia el manejo efectivo de las AMP.

Through the online AlgaeTraits portal, editors have access to the Aphia platform (the database behind WoRMS) to add new traits and related non-taxonomic information, and to make changes to already existing records. With this course, the AlgaeTraits editors will become more at ease with the online AlgaeTraits editing interface and will learn how to use the available functionalities and tools to standardize their actions and improve the AlgaeTraits and WoRMS databases.