ECOP Panel

Register here to attend the panel only: https://forms.gle/KscXyfyxCSdKsRhK9

Empowering Early Career Ocean Professionals in Community-Driven and Sustainable Ocean Development

Dr. Trishneeta Bhattacharya, trishneeta@gmail.com; Institute of Pierre Simone Laplace, Paris, France

Dr. Femi Anna Thomas, femi.angelina@gmail.com; Union Christian College, Kerala

Dr. Anwesha Ghosh, drghoshanwesha@gmail.com; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata

Mr. Mohammed Munzil P.C., munzil1995@gmail.com; Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

This session explores how Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) are advancing community-driven marine science with a focus on sustainability, inclusion, and innovation. Highlighting the often-overlooked world of meiofauna, the session will feature examples where ECOPs have integrated citizen science and participatory approaches to study benthic biodiversity, ecosystem health, and sediment dynamics. Speakers will showcase how local knowledge, low-cost tools, and outreach strategies are being used to engage coastal communities in meiofaunal monitoring and marine conservation. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary collaborations that align with the goals of the UN Ocean Decade, particularly in areas of ecosystem restoration, equitable data access, and co-produced science.

Audience members will gain practical insights from ECOP-led initiatives that successfully blend scientific rigor with community participation, particularly in the context of meiofaunal research and benthic ecosystem monitoring. The session will offer a platform to exchange ideas, discover scalable citizen science approaches, and explore how early career researchers are redefining ocean sustainability through inclusive and locally grounded science.

Please note that registration to the ECOP Panel is independent of participation to the entire conference. You can participate in the panel free of cost if you are registered to the main conference. If you wish to register for the panel only, visit the registration link on the top of this page!

Registration deadline: 30th September 2025