ECOP Programme 68d ago

**Building a Global Ocean Science Community Through Summer Schools in Africa & Beyond | ECOP Webinar #37** Join us for Episode 37 of the ECOP (Early Career Ocean Professionals) webinar series, where we explore how coastal ocean environment summer schools are transforming ocean science capacity in West Africa, East Africa, and beyond. In this session, three experts share the story behind COESSING (Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Nigeria and Ghana) and COISWIO (Coastal Ocean and Environment School for the Western Indian Ocean) — from a small 2015 pilot in Ghana to a growing global network of hands-on ocean science schools now expanding into the Pacific Islands and beyond. **Meet our panelists:** 🎓 **Prof. Brian Arbic** – University of Michigan | Founder of COESSING & COISWIO 🐟 **Dr. Eunice Konadu Asamoah** – University of Ghana | Fisheries Scientist & Local Organizing Committee Lead 🌊 **Dr. Mariam Makusale** – Technical University of Mombasa | Marine Chemist & COISWIO Co-organizer **What we cover:** - The origin story of COESSING, from the Peace Corps to a 10-year milestone - How the schools expanded from Ghana to Nigeria, Kenya, and beyond - Hands-on research tracks: fisheries, marine plastics, physical & chemical oceanography, and more - The 2025 COISWIO inaugural school in Mombasa, Kenya - Upcoming schools in Tanzania (Sept 2026) and Calabar, Nigeria (Aug 2026) - How to apply as a participant or instructor - Funding challenges and the road to sustainability - The role of social sciences, policy, and community engagement in ocean education **Upcoming Schools:** 📍 Nigeria (Calabar) — August 10–14, 2026 📍 Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) — September 20–26, 2026 🌍 The ECOP Program is a UN Ocean Decade endorsed initiative supporting early career ocean professionals worldwide.