CommOCEAN Online Talks
Framed within the commitment to inclusive and impactful marine science communication, the European Marine Board Communication Panel decided to organize dedicated CommOCEAN Online Talks in the leap years in between CommOCEAN conferences, organized every two years. These open online events serve as an opportunity to go deeper into topics relevant for marine science communication, and allow for a World-wide participation in CommOCEAN conferences, normally organized in person.
Since the first conference in Porto, Portugal, in 2014, the CommOCEAN community has grown to over 1000 friends of the Ocean, an interesting mix of communicators, educators, journalists and scientists from more than 40 countries. Providing society with a holistic understanding of the role of the Ocean and the impacts of human activities on the services it provides is crucial in order to catalyze the behavioral change required for future sustainability. Science, communication and education need to come together via broad collaboration to apply integrated and cross-sectoral approaches to effectively share information on the Ocean, the changes occurring, associated effects on ecosystem services and communities, and approaches for mitigating changes and adapting to these changes.
During previous CommOCEAN conferences, many participants expressed their willingness to meet more frequently than just every two years. At the same time, more and more signals were received from interested parties from outside Europe, for whom physical participation in the biennial conferences is difficult. To meet this need, the European Marine Board Communication Panel decided to organize CommOCEAN online talks in years between two physical conferences.
2025 - Driving more impactful communication, the World Ocean Assessment as example.
Date and time: 11 December 2025, 15:00 - 17:30 CET
Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ewo5Wa0TSfu0eLhIhdGc4Q
The CommOCEAN Online Talk 2025 will bring together Ocean communicators to explore how to effectively convey the findings of the World Ocean Assessment (WOA). Participants can expect an engaging programme featuring an introduction to the WOA and its communication challenges, insights into science journalism and a presentation on a practical case study. The event will conclude with an interactive panel discussion and Q&A on key issues in ocean communication, followed by a short summary and a look ahead to CommOCEAN 2026. This online event offers an accessible opportunity to learn, exchange and strengthen skills in marine science communication.