Call for Expression of Interest: All-Atlantic Summer School 2025
Title: Numerical modelling and data analysis fundamentals: application on coastal resilience studies
Format: Hybrid – official link to be informed
Local: INPO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dates: 8-12 September 2025
Application Deadline: August 8th, 2025
Introduction
Are you an early career ocean scientist or professional interested in acquiring basic knowledge in numerical modelling and data analysis fundamentals and its application on coastal resilience studies?
Do you like to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment?
Then, this course is made for you!
Applications for participating in the All-Atlantic Summer School 2025 are now closed.
This course is provided by partners of the OKEANO Project, in a view to contribute to the empowerment of Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) as the next generation of ocean leaders within the All-Atlantic Alliance for Research and Innovation (AAORIA)[1].
The Summer School is strategically aligned with two key priority areas outlined in the 2023 All-Atlantic Forum hosted by South Africa, namely:
- Increasing our understanding of the relationship between the ocean and climate and developing outcome-oriented science for mitigating and adapting to the consequences of climate change, particularly for the benefit of increasing resilience of coastal communities;
- Coordinating Atlantic Ocean observing and improving modeling capacities, including in support of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
The course provides the opportunity for early careers to explore key numerical modeling concepts and their applications to understanding and predicting coastal processes, employing practical data analysis techniques with a view to coastal resilience applications, using Brazil as a local example, but equally useful elsewhere.
Expert guest lecturers will share insights on cutting-edge modelling practices and coastal resilience initiatives via hands-on exercises and utilizing publicly available oceanographic and atmospheric databases, demonstrating how those data are used for environmental applications and coastal vulnerability assessment.
OKEANO is a Coordination & Support Action supporting the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance and Declaration. It has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101158065.
About the Summer Course
The Summer School will host up to 15 Early Career Ocean Professionals onsite from partner countries of the All-Atlantic Alliance for Research and Innovation (AAORIA). An additional 10 students may be accepted remotely if needed. The AAORIA is a scientific cooperation framework building on the existence of three cooperative agreements – the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, the Belem Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation, and the All-Atlantic Declaration on Atlantic Cooperation, and it aims to foster scientific excellence in marine sciences. No prerequisite knowledge or experience are necessary to apply.
The course duration is 40 hours spread over 5 days, from September 8th to 12th. Content on climate, oceanography, meteorology, remote sensing, vulnerability, and resilience concepts will be provided. Students will engage in group discussions and hands-on practical exercises. The lectures will be given in an interactive mode, having also invited guest lecturers. Besides, technical visits to Laboratories of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) will be made. All activities will be held in English.
For those registered and not attending in person, a link to the course will be provided in due course.
Objectives
This course is designed to equip students and professionals with foundational knowledge in ocean, atmospheric, and climate computational modelling, alongside with in situ and remote sensing data analysis, with a specific emphasis on coastal resilience applications in Brazil, serving as a local example, but equally useful elsewhere. Students will explore key numerical modelling concepts and their applications to understanding and predicting coastal processes, employing practical data analysis techniques. The course will feature hands-on exercises utilizing publicly available oceanographic and atmospheric databases, demonstrating how those data are used for environmental applications and coastal vulnerability assessment. Expert guest lecturers will share insights on cutting-edge modelling practices and coastal resilience initiatives.
Benefits of participation
- Gain an understanding of ocean and climate computational modelling, as well as data analysis tailored for coastal applications;
- Gain knowledge in downscaling and data assimilation techniques;
- Learn aspects related to analysing and interpreting numerical model results;
- Understand how numerical modelling and observational data can be applied to practical problems in environmental studies, ocean renewable energy studies and climate change impacts on coastal systems, using Brazil as a model;
- Develop an understanding of key coastal resilience challenges and strategies in Brazil;
- Connect with ocean professionals from across the Atlantic and beyond;
- Interact with OKEANO Project and initiatives.
Eligibility Criteria
- Affiliation: Affiliated with an AAORIA partner organization.
- Career Stage: Must be an Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP), according to the definition from the UNESCO ECOP Programme: “An ECOP is a person that self-identifies as being early in their career, within 10 years or less of professional experience in any field related to the ocean. This definition includes post-secondary students and any volunteer roles, so not only employed/paid positions. The term ‘professional’ is used in order to be inclusive of professionals from various sectors of society”.
- Interest: Demonstrated interest in ocean-related research.
- Diversity: Encouraged participation of women and people from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented groups in ocean sciences.
Application Process
- Submit a CV and a one-page motivation letter detailing your intention for participating on the course.
- Submission Deadline: August 8th, 2025.
- Submit your EOI to the following address: dileine.cunha@cnpq.br; (cc: dileinecunha@gmail.com).
Selection Process
Selected candidates will be notified by August 15th, 2025. Upon selection, ECOPs must confirm their participation and fill in a consent form.
and Budget Considerations
The costs associated with the Summer School include travel to Brazil. These costs may be subsidized by the OKEANO Project, among other sources. However, we encourage applicants to seek alternatives to participate in-person in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Contact Information
For more information about the call for Expression of Interest, please contact dileine.cunha@cnpq.br; dileinecunha@gmail.com
We look forward to your participation!
[1] Argentina, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, European Union Member States, Ghana, Iceland, Morocco, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA.
