Call for presentations & poster descriptions

Now closed

We were looking for (oral or poster) presenters to make the CommOCEAN conference in 2024 a successful edition once again! Please read in detail the information below. The submission portal is now closed after the deadline of 21 June 2024.

The CommOCEAN 2024 conference will be organized as a fully in-person event; when considering the submission of your description, be aware that that you will be expected (and allowed) to be in Málaga at the end of November 2024.

To help you finalise your submission, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the objectives of the conference, and what will interest the audience most.

  • CommOCEAN is primarily a communications conference and all delegates are attending to improve, or learn new, communications skills and techniques.
  • Most will be working in some kind of ocean science institute or organisation and already understand the broad challenges facing the ocean.
  • All are keen to know about the results or impact of communications activities, so please include as much evaluation information as you can.

Your presentation will be made available on the CommOCEAN website and on YouTube. You will be notified closer to the time which day and time has been allocated for your presentation.

Themes of the conference:

In this edition of CommOCEAN, we are looking for short presentations (10 min) on the following themes:

  • Tools/ methods/ experiences in engaging your target audience in citizen science projects
    We welcome submissions for a 10 min presentation in plenary focused on sharing your experience, tools and methods used in engaging your target audience in marine or coastal citizen science projects. Two main questions need to be answered during this presentation:
    “why did you do it this way?”
    “what are your lessons learnt?”
     
  • Experiences in communicating from research campaigns, onboard research vessels and/or field work
    We welcome submissions for a 10 min presentation in plenary focused on sharing your experience in preparing and communicating the research taking place during campaigns such as onboard research vessels, field work, laboratory, etc. Two main questions need to be answered during this presentation:
    “why did you do it this way?”
    “what are your lessons learnt?”
     
  • Tools/ methods/ experiences in engaging your target audience in international initiatives (e.g. UN Ocean Decade)
    We welcome submissions for a 10 min presentation in plenary focused on sharing your experience, tools and methods used in communicating and engaging your target audience in an international initiative, such as the UN Ocean Decade, the EU Mission Ocean or the World Ocean Assessment. Two main questions need to be answered for this presentation:
    “why did you do it this way?”
    “what are your lessons learnt?”
     

  • ECOP’s experiences in communicating with a younger audience
    An ECOP is considered as a person that self-identifies as being early in their career (10 years or less of professional experience) in any field related to the ocean (not only employed/ paid positions). The term “professional” is used in order to be inclusive of professionals from many different sectors of society.

    We welcome submissions for a 10 min presentation in plenary focused on sharing ECOP’s thoughts and learnings, good & bad, in communicating with a younger audience.
    What you wish you knew earlier?
    What someone shared with you that was practically useful?
    Where it all went wrong?
    Where something/someone or some way of sharing knowledge surprised you?
    What tricks & techniques you use?
    How to keep informed of a rapidly changing landscape, and an even more rapidly changing audience?

  • Other themes relevant to ocean (science) communication and public engagement
    Do you have an example of a public or stakeholder facing project or initiative, presenting an area of research or a campaign? Would you like to share the evaluation of a communications campaign containing information about what was done, and how effective it was? Let us know! We may find space at the programme to accommodate your presentation!

What if my presentation has not been selected?

Submissions not selected for oral presentations, will be invited to provide a poster/ announcement and present it in a 1-min pitch presentation in one of the breaks. These visuals presenting (marine) science communication activities and videos will be available to view throughout the conference in an online gallery (“Show and Tell” exhibition – on the CommOCEAN website). These visuals could be posters, videos, websites, apps, etc. The entries should be either:

  • An example of a public or stakeholder facing entry, presenting an area of research or a campaign.
  • An entry showing the evaluation of a communications campaign containing information about what was done, and how effective it was.

There will be an award for the best poster/ announcement entry, and an award for best 1-min pitch presentation, as voted by the conference delegates. The awards will be given during the last day of the conference.

Selection criteria:

Submissions for a presentation or poster at the CommOCEAN 2024 conference will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • The submission must be about (marine) science communication or ocean communication/ engagement, or written demonstration on why would it be of interest for the audience of CommOCEAN 2024.
  • The submission must be clear about what would be presented, with preference to explaining engagement activities, lessons learnt (incl. learning from mistakes) or evaluation
  • Submissions containing new ideas and/or offering information about new approaches would be advantaged
  • Submissions explaining how the presentation will be original and creative would be advantaged