Call for Expression of Interest for Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) to participate in the Intergenerational Dialogue session at the 2025 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Forum in Brussels, Belgium

The AIR Centre announces the exciting opportunity for two (2) Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) to attend the Intergenerational Dialogue Session at the 2025 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Forum. This forum will take place during the week of 22 – 26 September 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. Find more information about the event here.

Event: Intergenerational Dialogue Session
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Dates: 22-26 September 2025
Application Deadline: 15 June 2025 23:59 (CET)

Introduction

Are you an early career ocean professional? Are you passionate about ocean conservation and eager to influence policy? Do you want to collaborate with fellow ECOPs and senior ocean professionals from across the Atlantic? Join us at the 2025 All-Atlantic Forum in Brussels for an intergenerational dialogue session!

About the Event

Building on the success of the intergenerational dialogue sessions at the Galway Statement 10-year anniversary and at the 2024 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Forum held in Ottawa, this dialogue will be part of the 2025 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Forum held in Brussels, aiming to foster intergenerational dialogue and ensure the systematic integration of ECOP perspectives and ideas into policy formulation. The session will provide a platform for ECOPs to collaborate with senior ocean professionals, engage in thematic group work, and present innovative solutions to key ocean governance challenges to the representatives and policy makers of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance.

Objectives

  • Facilitate Intergenerational Exchange: Engage in meaningful dialogue with leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to share insights and opportunities in addressing Atlantic Ocean conservation and research and innovation priorities.
  • Promote Collaboration: Work together with ECOPs and senior ocean professionals from All-Atlantic countries to develop actionable solutions for challenges around the All-Atlantic Declaration priorities.
  • Empower ECOPs as Leaders: Participate in policy discussions and receive mentorship from senior ocean professionals, showcasing your innovative ideas for sustainable ocean governance.

Thematic Priorities

  • Increase our understanding of the relationship between the ocean and climate, and to develop outcome-oriented science for mitigating and adapting to its consequences;
  • Monitor, protect and restore marine ecosystems and biodiversity, thereby enhancing their resilience and potential for adaptation to climate change and other natural and anthropogenic stressors;
  • Tackle the impacts of marine pollution, including plastics, on marine species and ecosystems;
  • Develop innovative, outcome-oriented science to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture;
  • Coordinate Atlantic Ocean observing and seabed mapping efforts and improve modeling capacities;
  • Promote circular, sustainable and inclusive ocean economies;
  • Promote ocean literacy and broaden engagement in ocean sciences and ocean sustainability.

Benefits of Participation

  • Networking: Connect with ocean professionals from across the Atlantic and beyond.
  • Mentorship: Receive guidance from senior professionals and enhance your professional development.
  • Impact: Contribute to the shaping of ocean-related policies and present your ideas to policymakers.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Affiliation: Must be affiliated with an organisation based in an AIR Centre’s country member that contributes to AAORIA principles and initiatives (check countries here).
  • Career Stage: Must be an early career ocean professional (ECOP), following the UN definition: “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 post-secondary students and any volunteer roles, so not only employed/paid positions. The term ‘professional’ is used in order to be inclusive of professionals from various sectors of society.”
  • Age limit: under the age of 35 years of age.
  • Interest: Demonstrated interest in ocean-related research, innovation, and policy
    development.
  • Diversity: Encouraged participation from diverse backgrounds, including
    underrepresented groups in ocean sciences.

Application and Submission Process

  • Expression of Interest (EOI): Complete the EOI form detailing your background, motivation, and expected contribution to the session. Please note that you may need to apply for a visa to be eligible to travel for this event (see guidance information here).
  • Provide a Support Letter: Include a letter of support from your home organization explaining how your participation in the dialogue session will benefit your organisation as well as the AIR Centre’s and the AAORIA’s network.
  • Make a single PDF with all documents: completed EIO form, Support Letter and any relevant documents (e.g. short CV) and email it to tania.chen@aircentre.org.
  • Submission Deadline: 15 June 2025 23:59 (CET).

Selection Process

Selected candidates will be notified by 30 June 2025. Upon selection, ECOPs must confirm their participation by 7 July 2024, 23:59 (CET) and immediately apply for a visa if applicable.

Funding Considerations

The AIR Centre will fund travel, accommodation, visa, visa-related costs, meals and local transportation.
Travel and accommodation will be booked directly by the AIR Centre. Travel arrangements will be made as soon as we receive your participation confirmation or as soon as your visa is granted (if applicable).

Visa, visa-related fees, meals and local transportation will be paid via reimbursement by bank transfer upon submission of the following documentation:

  • Participation report: summarizing and analyze the outcomes of your participation;
  • Original physical boarding pass;
  • Original invoice for the visa;
  • All original paper documents (receipt or invoices).

If all receipt or invoices are in digital format (PDF), these can be submitted via email to Tânia Li Chen at tania.chen@aircentre.org. However, if receipt or invoices are only available as physical documentation / printed in paper, these need to be sent via mail to the AIR Centre’s Lisbon Office at Avenida Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.

Contact Information

For more information about the call for Expression of Interest, please contact Tânia Li Chen at tania.chen@aircentre.org.

Join us in Brussels to make a difference in Atlantic Ocean conservation and policy. We look forward to your participation!

Other news