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The Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) have been running a Visiting Fellowship program in ocean observations that has trained 200 fellows since its inception in 2001. We report here on the medium- and long-term impacts of the training, as demonstrated by a combination of quantitative results from evaluation questionnaires and qualitative reports from fellows and supervisors. The key findings are that the fellowships have had positive impacts on the fellows themselves (e.g., participation in new research projects, implementation of new techniques, long-term collaborations), as well as “training the trainers,” with most fellows indicating that they had passed on the knowledge gained. Benefits to the host supervisor and institution are also apparent through continued collaborations (e.g., reciprocal exchange visits, joint publications, joint projects). More widespread impacts are evident, where fellows have become key participants in the international scientific community.
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This content will become publicly available on January 1, 2026
All Aboard! Providing Shipboard Technical Skills While Building Capacity in Ocean Observations
Shipboard training equips early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to tackle the challenges of marine research. Such training helps develop a workforce essential for implementing a truly global ocean observation system and advancing understanding of the ocean and its sustainable use. Working with other organizations and individuals, the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) offers opportunities to ECOPs, mainly from developing countries, to join research cruises and acquire hands-on experience with real-world oceanographic work. These learning experiences can be organized either as one-on-one training on research cruises with spare berths or collective training on dedicated expeditions designed for larger groups of international students. This article introduces POGO’s shipboard training program by presenting examples from each of the modalities, and it explores the program’s long-term impacts and future directions.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2318309
- PAR ID:
- 10599658
- Publisher / Repository:
- The Oceanography Society
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Oceanography
- Volume:
- 38
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1042-8275
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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