{"id":33408,"date":"2024-05-14T09:41:58","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T15:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futureearth.org\/?p=33408"},"modified":"2024-05-14T09:41:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T15:41:58","slug":"novel-mentoring-project-equips-the-next-generation-of-marine-monitoring-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/futureearth.org\/2024\/05\/14\/novel-mentoring-project-equips-the-next-generation-of-marine-monitoring-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Novel Mentoring Project Equips the Next Generation of Marine Monitoring Scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”33410″ css=”.vc_custom_1715701117130{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The basic building blocks of the marine biosphere are phytoplankton, which are tiny floating plants that get their energy from photosynthesis. More than 100,000 different species of phytoplankton thrive in different ocean regions.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the northwest Pacific and Indo-Pacific seas, human pressures and climate change are together driving increases in eutrophication, heat waves and water quality degradation, affecting the sustainability of fishing and aquaculture in the region and seriously impacting marine ecosystems and human health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Satellites offer a comprehensive view to monitor the changes happening to phytoplankton via ocean color imaging. But compared to European seas, the optical characteristics in the Indo-Pacific and northwest Pacific seas have not been investigated enough to enable an understanding of sustainable marine management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joint ESA-Future Earth Program Funds Mentoring Project<\/b><\/p>\n

The IMBeR Ocean Color-based Plant species identification and Carbon flux in the Indo-Pacific oceans (<\/span>OCPC<\/span><\/a>) study group was established to address these challenges, and in 2023 it successfully won funding via the <\/span>ESA-Future Earth Joint Program<\/span><\/a> to support a uniquely successful mentoring and training project to upskill early career researchers in the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting with a survey to identify graduate students who were genuinely interested in conducting a research study, and maintaining a balance for equity and diversity, the leads selected 13 participants, mainly early career participants, from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. These were each paired with a member of the OCPC for mentoring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The project ran 3 online training sessions and lectures held May-September 2023 to equip the participants in handling Earth observation data for ocean color and applying it to specific practical challenges in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

It then hosted a 3-day in-person workshop in Bali Indonesia, 7-9 November 2023. Each of the 13 participants is now finalizing their manuscripts for publication in the open access Journal of Sea Research.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought it would be so quick. I\u2019m very shocked that I ran my data by myself, and we managed to get things done so quickly. I was writing my manuscript on just day two,\u201d says student Ms. Evonne Tan, a workshop participant from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mature scientists appreciated having an opportunity to network and engage deeply in their area of expertise. \u201cI have met scientists with similar expertise to me, with whom I can share my data and knowledge about what is happening in my region and with neighboring countries,\u201d said Dr. Madihah Binti Jafar Sidik, a workshop participant based at Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia. \u201cI have never attended this kind of workshop that made me happy the whole day!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Many governments and authorities in the region need scientific information to be able to predict fishing yields. Because the pressures on the marine biosphere are all connected, both scientists and policymakers need a broad data and understanding of the system, says Professor GiHoon Hong, coordinator of the OCPC study group, who is the IMBeR IPO Strategy Director based at the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University.<\/span><\/p>\n

To this end, the workshop brought together researchers from various different disciplines to study the optical properties of seawater, chlorophyll-a, ocean management practices, fish yields, and risk mitigation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope this workshop builds a bridge to help those participants without a background in remote sensing to expand the data applications and empower marine biosphere research,\u201d says Professor Shen Fang, co-chair of the OCPC study group, who is based at the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis workshop has exceeded our expectations. We look forward to strengthening international cooperation to further study the response of marine ecosystems to climate change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch a video recap of the workshop below:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QtxoOEcci3U” align=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1715700363082{padding-top: 25px !important;}”]Further information<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Links to <\/span>IMBeR IPO-China website<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>OCPC study group<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>EO-WPI Project<\/span><\/a>
\nLink to <\/span>project final report<\/span><\/a>
\nLink to <\/span>Copernicus Marine Service<\/span><\/a> for operational ocean colour data and trainings
\n<\/span>Link to ESA\u2019s <\/span>Ocean Colour CCI<\/span><\/a> project<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”33410″ css=”.vc_custom_1715701117130{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The basic building blocks of the marine biosphere are phytoplankton, which are tiny floating plants that […]<\/p>\n

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