Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School

19/05/2026

OPERA MOOC Set 1: Fundamentals of Ocean Forecasting - Applications are now OPEN

This free 7-week online course provides a comprehensive introduction to ocean forecasting - how it works, what drives it, and how its products are used in the real world. It covers the full end-to-end chain: from the physics of ocean circulation and the numerical models that simulate it, to the observing systems that feed them, and the downstream applications that put forecast products to work in fisheries, coastal management, maritime safety, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation.

🎓 Designed for students, early-career professionals, and practitioners in oceanography, meteorology, marine science, fisheries, coastal management, maritime operations, disaster risk reduction, and environmental policy. No prior experience in ocean forecasting is required.

📅 Key dates:
→ Applications open: 19 May 2026
→ Free info webinar: 04 June 2026 · 14:30 UTC
→ Deadline: 16 June 2026
→ Course starts: 29 June 2026

✅ Free · 7 weeks · ~21 hours · FutureLearn · English / French · Online & asynchronous

Apply now: https://www.unoceanprediction.org/mooc-application-form/

This course is developed under the OPERA Capacity Development Activities led by the CIPMA - CHAIRE UNESCO (Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Benin) and Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School. OPERA - Ocean Prediction Enhancement in the Regions of Africa - is a five-year project implemented by Mercator Ocean International with funding from the European Union as part of the Arc X programme.

More information about the project here: https://www.unoceanprediction.org/en/ocean-prediction-enhancement-regions-africa-opera.

Port Autonome d'Abidjan Port Autonome De Conakry Port Authority of Douala - Pad Météo Bénin Université de Dschang Université de Toulouse Plastic Oceans

05/05/2026

🌊 GGOSSS 2026 | Selection Results Announced!

We are thrilled to share that the selection process for the 2nd Edition of the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS 2026) is now complete!

📩 Notification emails have been sent to all applicants. Please check your inbox (and spam folder, just in case!).

We received an incredible number of applications this year - a true testament to the growing passion for marine and coastal science across the Gulf of Guinea region and beyond. To everyone who applied: thank you. Your enthusiasm and dedication to ocean science inspire us every day.

We look forward to welcoming our selected participants to CIPMA – Chaire UNESCO, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Benin from October 3–9, 2026 for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Stay tuned for more updates! 🐚🌍

01/04/2026

Get to know more about the strategic and technical partner institutions for the OPERA Capacity Development Activities!

The Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS) is a regional capacity-building initiative dedicated to strengthening ocean science and ocean forecasting expertise across West and Central Africa. It was created to provide hands-on, high-level training for students, early-career researchers, and professionals working in oceanography, climate science, and coastal management. Through intensive learning environments combining theory, data analysis, numerical modeling, and field activities, GGOSSS aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and operational ocean applications in the Gulf of Guinea region.

GGOSSS is conceived as a recurring and expanding program, with the next edition scheduled to take place in Benin in October 2026 and further editions planned across the Gulf of Guinea region. By building a growing network of trained African ocean scientists, instructors, and partner institutions, GGOSSS provides a sustainable platform for long-term capacity development. Within the OPERA Capacity Development Program, GGOSSS serves as technical implementation partner, offering a practical training ecosystem, regional expertise, and a strong community base that directly supports OPERA’s objectives of advancing operational ocean forecasting and resilience in Africa
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Keep an eye on our page to learn more about the drivers behind ocean forecasting capacity development and ocean literacy in Africa and beyond through the OPERA project!

31/03/2026

🚨 LAST CALL – GGOSSS 2026 APPLICATIONS CLOSE TODAY!

⏳ Deadline: March 31st, 11:59 PM (GMT)

This is your final chance to join the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS) and be part of a new generation of ocean scientists in Africa 🌊

👉 Apply now: www.ggosss.org/application

⚠️ Late applications will NOT be accepted.

18/03/2026

🚨 Happening NOW!

🌊 Still thinking about applying to GGOSSS 2026?
Don’t miss our Live Q&A Session!

📅 Wednesday, March 18
⏰ 3:00 PM (GMT)
💻 Online (Microsoft Teams)

👉 Get all your questions answered about:
✔️ The program
✔️ Eligibility & application
✔️ Selection process
✔️ What to expect

🎯 This is your chance to connect directly with the GGOSSS team!

📲 Join us now: https://qrco.de/bgfkiq

📌 Applications close April 1st, 2026

17/03/2026

🚨 Happening TOMORROW!

🌊 Still thinking about applying to GGOSSS 2026?
Don’t miss our Live Q&A Session!

📅 Wednesday, March 18
⏰ 3:00 PM (GMT)
💻 Online (Microsoft Teams)

👉 Get all your questions answered about:
✔️ The program
✔️ Eligibility & application
✔️ Selection process
✔️ What to expect

🎯 This is your chance to connect directly with the GGOSSS team!

📲 Join here: https://qrco.de/bgfkiq

📌 Applications close April 1st, 2026

11/03/2026

🌊Interested in applying to GGOSSS 2026? Join our Live Q&A Session!

The Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS) 2026 – 2nd Edition is now open for applications!

To help prospective applicants learn more about the program and the application process, we are organizing a Live Q&A Information Session.

📅 Wednesday, March 18
⏰ 3:00 PM (GMT)
💻 Online via Microsoft Teams (https://qrco.de/bgfkiq)

During this session, the GGOSSS team will present:

🔹 The GGOSSS 2026 program and objectives
🔹 Who should apply
🔹 The application and selection process
🔹 What participants can expect during the summer school
🔹 A live Q&A session to answer your questions

📌 Application deadline: April 1st, 2026

📲 Scan the QR code on the poster or click on the link below to register for the session.
https://qrco.de/bgfkiq

👉 More information and application:
https://www.ggosss.org/application

GGOSSS aims to empower the next generation of ocean scientists and practitioners in the Gulf of Guinea region, through advanced training, hands-on workshops, and collaboration with international experts.

Please share this opportunity with students and early-career researchers interested in oceanography, marine science, climate, and coastal systems.

04/03/2026

Get to know more about the dynamic professionals leading the OPERA Capacity Development Activities!

Odette Ateyiho is a communication officer with over eight years of experience in scientific mediation, strategic communication, and research dissemination. She has a strong expertise in developing evidence-based communication strategies, behaviour change communication, managing alumni and mentorship networks, and producing multimedia content, including podcasts, videos, and popular science articles. She has contributed to enhancing the international visibility of the Master’s Program in Oceanography and Applications (M2SOAC-OA), designed and implemented science communication strategies, organized an Open Science Day focused on oceanography, coordinated mentorship programs, and supported partnership development and fundraising through tailored communication tools.
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Keep an eye on our page to learn more about the drivers behind ocean forecasting capacity development and ocean literacy in Africa and beyond through the OPERA project.

This project is made possible by the collaboration of the European Union, Mercator Ocean International, and various African and international partners, emphasizing co-design and co-development with stakeholders to ensure the development of fit-for-purpose ocean prediction tools and services.

03/03/2026

Relive the presentation webinar of the OPERA capacity development project. Discover the planned activities and the opportunities available to engage and benefit.

Link :

Relive the presentation webinar of the OPERA capacity development project. Discover the planned activities and the opportunities available to engage and bene...

27/02/2026

𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 : “𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚.”

Africa is entering a decisive phase in its engagement with ocean science and forecasting. The OPERA project (Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa) has moved into its operational phase, with a strong focus on capacity development-ensuring that ocean prediction systems are not only available, but usable, understood, and sustained by African institutions.

Started in 2025, OPERA is a five-year project with a budget of 10 million euros, funded by the European Union as part of its programme to support African Regional Centres of Excellence for Science, Innovation, and Technology. OPERA represents the ocean component, one of five component, and is implemented by Mercator Ocean International in its role as coordinator of the Ocean Prediction Decade Collaborative Centre (DCC).

Dr. Babette Christelle Tchonang, physical oceanographer and Technical & Scientific Lead of OPERA Capacity Development, provides the scientific and strategic leadership of this component. A research assistant at Florida State University, she works under contract with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Here, she explains how OPERA Capacity Development aims to transform access to ocean forecasting in Africa and why it matters for scientists, decision-makers, and coastal communities.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 : https://www.ggosss.org/post/dr-babette-christelle-tchonang-physical-oceanographer-building-capacity-through-opera-will-shap

27/02/2026

Get to know more about the dynamic professionals leading the OPERA Capacity Development Activities!

Serge Ghomsi is a Project Manager with a background in physical oceanography, data science, and digital project coordination, currently working in an international industrial environment. He serves as the Project Manager of the OPERA Capacity Development project, where he is responsible for the coordination of project activities. He is also the Program Operations & IT Coordinator of the GGOSSS - An Ocean Sciences Summer School in Gulf Of Guinea Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS), where he oversees digital platforms, data-driven workflows, and operational logistics for large-scale international training initiatives. His combined experience in ocean sciences, project management, and digital infrastructure supports the efficient delivery of OPERA capacity-development objectives in alignment with Mercator Ocean International and the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre (DCC).
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This project is made possible by the collaboration of the European Union, Mercator Ocean International, and various African and international partners, emphasizing co-design and co-development with stakeholders to ensure the development of fit-for-purpose ocean prediction tools and services.