Early Career Ocean Professionals
Recognizing the significant role of new generations of ocean professionals in shaping value systems, contributing valuable knowledge, and fostering an ocean-centric worldview, the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) is committed to integrating Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) into its activities. Since 2019, AAORIA has been focused on equipping ECOPs with the skills, education, training, and opportunities needed to drive positive change and sustainable development across the Atlantic Ocean.
Through initiatives such as the Blue Intergenerational Programme, Summer Schools, Intergenerational Dialogues, and regular participation in AAORIA Fora, the Alliance aims to foster a dynamic and inclusive ocean community, enabling ECOPs to actively engage in policy formulation and the implementation of AAORIA’s goals for a healthy and sustainable Atlantic Ocean.
To advance its policy priorities, AAORIA promotes intergenerational learning and dialogue, facilitating collaboration across disciplines, cultures, and nations. These dialogues provide ECOPs with opportunities to engage in mutual learning with their peers, senior ocean professionals, and policymakers.
The AAORIA intergenerational dialogues are designed to allow ECOPs to share innovative ideas, propose solutions, and enhance policymaking through practical experiences. These sessions include brainstorming and pitch presentations, facilitated by discussion coaches, where ECOPs can present their perspectives on advancing science and stewardship of the Atlantic Ocean.
The inaugural intergenerational dialogue was held at the Galway Statement 10-year anniversary event in Galway, Ireland, on July 5-6, 2023. This event focused on discussing ocean conservation priorities outlined in the 2022 All-Atlantic Declaration. The positive feedback and active participation have led to the establishment of annual intergenerational dialogues, with past editions held in 2024 and 2025 along with the All-Atlantic Fora. These dialogues will continue to enhance engagement, mentorship, and networking across the Atlantic, facilitating the exchange of innovative ideas and expertise for a sustainable ocean.
Read more about the 2024 edition here, including what MEOPAR and EU4OceanObs had to say about it!
Stay tuned for the 2026 edition!
AAORIA is dedicated to supporting the training and development of ECOPs through various initiatives, including online courses, summer schools, and floating universities. Regular online seminars are organized to provide ECOPs with essential skills in policy making, science diplomacy, communications, stakeholder engagement, local and indigenous knowledge, and cultural intelligence.
AAORIA also organizes dedicated Summer Schools through its implementing projects, with successful sessions held in 2019 in Ireland and 2022 in the United States, in 2024 and 2025 in Brazil and more planned for the future.
The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) recently launched the All-Atlantic Blue Intergenerational Programme and its pilot version of an Integrated Platform, a pioneering initiative designed to connect and empower ocean professionals across generations, cultures, and continents.
This Programme builds on the commitments of the Galway and Belém Statements, the Washington Declaration, the European Ocean Pact, and the UN Pact for the Future. It aims to create a vibrant community of ocean researchers, policymakers, innovators, and community leaders dedicated to restoring the health of the Atlantic Ocean. Developed with the support of the Horizon Europe-funded OKEANO project supporting AAORIA, its pilot Integrated Platform will serve as a one-stop hub for early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs) mapping and connecting existing training and capacity-building opportunities and making them more visible and accessible.
Expected impacts include stronger intergenerational capacity building, greater engagement with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Global South, and synergies with global initiatives. The goal is to create spaces for dialogue and cooperation to connect and support early-career and senior ocean professionals around the Atlantic, building resilience and hope within their communities.
