International Consortium develops groundbreaking Ocean-Biodiversity education program

The Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre), the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), and the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU) have joined forces to develop a higher-education curriculum on Ocean-Biodiversity Observing and Capacity Development (OBCaD). The primary aim is to develop a curriculum focused on interoperable ocean data and information management to be integrated into universities and other institutes. Importantly, this initiative is closely aligned with the objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which emphasises the urgent need for a globally accessible, reliable, and integrated ocean data and information ecosystem. Through the creation of a strong and effective curriculum, we aim to support the Decade’s key priorities—enhancing the accessibility and usability of ocean data, fostering confidence in shared information, and promoting digital innovations for sustainable ocean governance. A diverse group of national and international experts has come together to form a strong consortium dedicated to advancing this mission. Specialised Working Groups will design a thorough, 10-topic curriculum centred on Marine Biodiversity and Data Management, which will function both as a self-paced course and as a resource to be included in live teaching. You can learn more about this initiative here: https://futureocean.wmu.se/hec-obcad/