The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) was launched in January 2021 to help society transition from “the ocean we have” to “the ocean we want.” As the largest coordinated ocean science movement worldwide, it leverages connections among global stakeholders, promotes the collection of data, information, and knowledge, and drives policy changes at multiple levels to achieve “the science we need” for this transition (UNESCO-IOC 2021). To guide this work, it identified 10 Challenges for collective impact, including “skills, knowledge, technology and participation for all” (Challenge #9). The Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme tackles this Challenge by providing capacity development and networking opportunities to 8200+ ECOPs in 168 countries (as of April 2026), by elevating and strengthening their diverse perspectives through a collective voice, and by empowering the next generation of ocean leaders to participate in and influence major Decade processes and decisions (Arbic et al. 2024). For the purpose of the 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 not only paid positions but also post-secondary students and volunteer roles. The term “professional” is used in order to be inclusive of professionals from various sectors of society. As individuals managing various aspects of the Programme, we invite ECOPs from all disciplines and regions to join the network. We outline below how ECOPs can get involved with and benefit from the Programme. At a basic level of involvement, ECOP members benefit from participating in our activities, but they can benefit even further by immersing themselves in the Programme; advancing between steps (participating, engaging, organizing, and leading; Fig. 1) should happen at an individual's own pace. We suggest that you start by signing up to our global registry, subscribing to our Newsletter, and joining specific national and regional Nodes or Task Teams for localized content and initiatives. Concrete actions within and across each of the four steps that you can take after joining the ECOP Programme include (Fig. 1): We aggregate and disseminate information from numerous worldwide sources about various types of professional development opportunities for ECOPs (e.g., jobs, funding calls, summer schools, training, volunteering, seminars, mentoring programs, etc.). We promote (and archive) them via our monthly Newsletter, Database of Opportunities, directories of international and regional networks and organizations (Ocean Networks directory and Asian Ocean Stakeholders map), social media channels (LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram), and YouTube channel. You can share an opportunity by submitting it to the database or sending it to us for promotion! We have hosted a webinar series since 2022, reaching an ever-increasing audience (4600+ registrants so far), and showcasing a wide variety of topics across many disciplines, such as the blue economy, ocean literacy, marine technologies, science writing and communication, and science-policy interface―recordings are archived on our YouTube playlist. We also collaborate with other organizations (EUMETSAT, EMODnet, the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, a.o.) to develop external webinars and with the OceanTeacher Global Academy to provide free in-person and online training courses on topics such as oceanographic survey techniques and data analysis and management. Our Asia and Africa ocean literacy hubs help bridge the gap between global resources and regional needs. They convene young ocean literacy enthusiasts and experts, review the regional ocean literacy landscape, and identify gaps and priorities (e.g., developing guidebooks and blue curricula). Overall, these hubs aim to curate learning resources and school networks and translate professional development into community-level action that nurtures a more informed and engaged blue society. The ECOP Programme can be your professional home! We provide the space where you can connect with like-minded ECOPs, whether locally (for an amazing support network) or further afield (use work travel to forge new relations). Take advantage of conferences to network; as an example, we delivered an informational townhall about the Programme during the 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow this past February (Fig. 2), and organized an ECOP social gathering later that evening (Fig. 3) to promote more in-depth connections between ECOPs attending the meeting. The Programme also fosters connections between ECOPs and mid-to-late career professionals, promoting two-way learning opportunities and collaboration avenues and ensuring knowledge transfer and legacy work. Networking can take place virtually, but attending conferences of relevance is an extremely effective way to approach this! Upcoming regional events include annual/biennial conferences in Australia (AMSA), Latin America (COLACMAR), North America (ASLO meetings), Asia (XMAS, Blue Wave Conference), Africa (WIOMSA Symposium), and Europe (EGU meetings). Upcoming high-level events include annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and the Our Ocean Conferences, 2027 Ocean Decade Conference (Brazil), and 2028 UN Ocean Conference (Republic of Korea). Reach out to Node coordinators to be connected with other ECOPs attending regional events and to ECOP Global for large conferences (e.g., Ocean Sciences Meetings) or high-level events. The ECOP Programme has a globally recognized brand. If you are actively volunteering, interning, or coordinating with us, you are enhancing your CV by gaining experience in leadership, time and project management, capacity building, and other soft skills. By getting involved with a working group, you could demonstrate scientific expertise and the global reach and impact of your research. The connections you make with ECOPs and other more senior professionals can also be useful—they might take an interest in your career and potentially employ you in the future. To volunteer with or coordinate a Node, email the current coordination team (contact info on their respective pages). You can also actively support any of the Task Teams or the Communications Team. If your country/region or target activity are not represented by an existing Node or Task Team (respectively), you can volunteer to establish a new one. This task involves building a core group with clear roles to coordinate activities, followed by co-designing a strategy with concrete actions. It is important to engage existing ECOP members, national stakeholders, partners, and Ocean Decade structures (e.g., National Decade Committees) while ensuring effective communication channels and member tracking systems. Securing funding or in-kind support further strengthens Node/Team sustainability. Adherence to the practices laid out in the ECOP Programme Onboarding Handbook is essential, and prospective coordinators are encouraged to first connect with EK (Global Coordinator) or regional coordinators for initial guidance and integration into the global network. Please note that the ECOP Programme has no budget itself to finance coordinating roles, but some Nodes have secured funding for activities and positions (e.g., Canada, Australia you can also contact the societies' lead organizers listed in the call about paying for OA. We promote the work and activities of our members to give them international visibility and a platform where they can discuss their research, career pathways, and passion for the ocean. We highlight ECOPs' projects and stories through three ongoing communications campaigns: ECOP Stories, ECOP Conversations, and My Coastline. Check the pages to find out how you can be featured! Support the growth of a worldwide network by partnering with us to help ECOPs make a lasting impact on the future of ocean science. Financial contributions help us cover operational costs (coordinator positions) as well as support initiatives (e.g., BlueCaD project, webinars) and conference travel for ECOPs. In-kind contributions are also welcome; examples include organizational mentorship, provision of equipment and space for our in-person trainings, co-chairing of conference side events, and speaking during our webinars. In return, you get a unique opportunity to showcase your commitment to ocean sustainability and global development, to attract fresh and innovative ideas to advance your work and increase its relevance and impact, and to strengthen your brand's visibility and influence within the global community. To explore partnerships with us, contact EK (ECOP Programme Global Coordinator). The ECOP Programme is an impactful initiative within the Ocean Decade given its power of networking, international visibility, and our contribution to addressing Challenge #9 “Skills, knowledge, technology and participation for all.” We are providing real benefits to ECOPs now, and our legacy will live beyond 2030. Reach out if you want to join us or collaborate: we welcome all, individuals (at any career stage) and organizations. EK was supported within the framework of the State assignment FMWE-2024-0015 “Hydrophysical processes shaping the ecological state of internal and marginal seas and the ocean coastal zone.” We acknowledge other ECOPs who were actively involved in the Programme and helped us host this town hall and organize a dinner that same evening: Ronnie Noonan-Birch, Jess Kolbusz, and Conor Savage. We thank the OSM organizers and Program Committee for the opportunity to hold the town hall and share information about the ECOP Programme with conference attendees. We also thank the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) for their administrative and financial support to the Programme. RMF-S is a Member-at-Large on the ASLO Board of Directors.
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