The 1st EMB Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) Network Forum

The Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela hosted the first forum of the European Marine Board’s Network of Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) on October 8-9, 2023. This event was organized with the generous support of the Spanish Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) and brought together 70 participants from different EMB (European Marine Board) member organizations.

The forum brought together young experts, including Dr. Mišo Pavičić and Dr. Jere Veža from the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, to learn and discuss with more experienced colleagues, seasoned marine policy experts and scientists. The Forum spanned two intensive days and provided participants with the opportunity to engage in a range of fascinating topics and activities.

One of the main objectives of the Forum was to provide participants with training on European maritime policy, scientific communication tools and collaboration strategies. In addition, participants had the opportunity to meet and network with other scientists from different European institutions, building an interdisciplinary community of young EMB professionals.

One of the most important aspects of this event was the opportunity to have an open dialog with policy makers, experts and scientists. Forum participants were able to express their views and recommendations on how to improve engagement in the current marine policy landscape. These recommendations will be forwarded to European scientific and policy organizations through the European Marine Board (EMB).