We are pleased to announce that the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), with the support of the Partnership for the Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), the Nippon Foundation (NF), the University of Galway and the Chair of Climate Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, will conduct the fifth training expedition on board its RV Polarstern, Germany’s largest research vessel.
The NoSoAT (North-South Atlantic Transect) OceanCapX (Ocean Capacity Exchange) expedition will depart from Bremerhaven, Germany, on 13 November 2025. Arrival in Walvis Bay, Namibia, is scheduled for 12 December 2025. A one-day pre-cruise workshop is included.
For the first time, in addition to 20 trainee berths, we will also be offering 5 berths for future trainers. Both opportunities are aimed at postgraduate students (Master’s or PhD) working in climate or marine science-related fields. Preference will be given to applicants from low-income countries.
Who can apply?
- Trainees: Early-career Ocean Professionals with little or no experience in seagoing expeditions.
- Junior Trainers: Early-career Ocean Professionals with extensive shipboard experience who are also dedicated to teaching.
- 5 berths will be allocated to participants affiliated with a member of @seanetwork
- 5 berths will be reserved for applicants affiliated with any Irish institution with a climate-related focus.
Applicants must have a passport valid until July 2026 and be eligible to enter Namibia and Germany Please confirm your visa requirements before applying.
Selection criteria
Applications will be reviewed by an international panel of ocean scientists, which will evaluate applications based on quality of the application, candidate’s experience and qualifications, potential to contribute to sustained capacity development in their home country and institution, references and overall relevance and eligibility. The selection process will consider gender and regional balance to ensure inclusivity and diversity.
What the training consists of:
The hands-on training will consist of five modules on climate and ocean topics, likely to be Oceanography/Microplastics, Atmosphere and Climate, Marine Business Applications, Molecular Ecology, Bathymetry and Outreach activities. All 25 successful fellows will be divided into five groups. These groups of five will rotate through all topics during the cruise, so that by the end of the cruise each scholar will have worked with all teachers and topics.
Please apply until 31 March 2025
