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The state and dynamics of the oceans and seas that surround Africa are changing at an increasing pace due to anthropogenic pressures. The livelihoods of many Africans depend on fishing and ocean-driven monsoon rains, and some African coastlines are eroding rapidly, potentially with catastrophic results to populations and infrastructure. Yet few African scientists are prepared to engage in ocean-related research. To address this deficit, the Master’s program in Oceanography and Applications1 was launched in 2008 in Benin, targeting the West African region. This program is designed to build capacity in support of regional research programs in oceanography such as PIRATA (Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic; Bourlès et al., 2019), AMMA-EGEE (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses - Oceanic Circulation and Ocean-Atmosphere Exchanges in the Gulf of Guinea; Redelsperger et al., 2006; Bourlès et al., 2007), and PROPAO (Regional Program of Physical Oceanography in West Africa; Sohou et al., 2020).
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This content will become publicly available on January 1, 2026
Unleashing Potential: Collaborative Research as a Catalyst for Capacity Building and Enhancement
Collaborative research is a powerful way to build capacity across various domains, from academia to industry (Gamo et al., 2010). At its core, collaborative research is characterized by shared objectives, mutual trust, and collective problem-solving (Lang et al., 2012; Moeenian et al., 2022). Here, we describe the project entitled SARgassum risk across the Atlantic: building capacity for Transformational Adaptation in the Caribbean and West Africa (SARTRAC, https://sartrac.org), which brought together researchers from the global North and South from 2019 to 2023 (Figure 1). Institutions involved included the University of Southampton and the University of York (UK), University of Ghana (Ghana), Mona GeoInformatics Institute (Jamaica), and University of West Indies-Mona and -Cave Hill campuses (Barbados). The objectives were to investigate the drivers behind the Sargassum influx, understand the biology of Sargassum, develop early warning systems, identify alternative uses for Sargassum, and educate the vulnerable communities who are significantly impacted by its presence. We show how this collaborative research enhanced capacities, bridged knowledge gaps, and fostered innovation, and explore how projects like SARTRAC can serve as dynamic platforms for holistic development.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2318309
- PAR ID:
- 10599685
- Publisher / Repository:
- The Oceanography Society
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Oceanography
- ISSN:
- 1042-8275
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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