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Sound is a persistent yet dynamic component of the marine environment, reflecting both physical and biological properties. Whereas light can only travel tens of meters in the ocean, sound is able to travel tens to thousands of kilometers under certain conditions, revealing information at specific times and places. In addition, underwater sound provides opportunities for sustainable development and blue economy growth that aren’t readily available with other technologies. For example, the melting rate of Arctic ice and the health of coral reefs can be estimated from acoustic measurements (Becker et al., 2023). However, underwater acoustics is a complex topic, requiring specialized education and equipment. To expand the capacity of underwater acousticians requires dedicated educational opportunities and low-cost equipment and analysis resources. 

One of the biggest barriers to conducting ocean science around the globe is limited access to computational tools and resources, including software, computing infrastructure, and data. Open tools, such as open-source software, open data, and online computing resources, offer promising solutions toward more equitable access to scientific resources. Here, we discuss the enabling power of these tools in under-resourced and non-English speaking regions, based on experience gained in the organization of three independent programs in West African, Latin American, and Indian Ocean nations. These programs have embraced the “hackweek” learning model that bridges the gap between data science and domain applications. Hackweeks function as knowledge exchange forums and foster meaningful international and regional connections among scientists. Lessons learned across the three case studies include the importance of using open computational and data resources, tailoring programs to regional and cultural differences, and the benefits and challenges of using cloud-based infrastructure. Sharing capacity in marine open data science through the regional hackweek approach can expand the participation of more diverse scientific communities and help incorporate different perspectives and broader solutions to threats to marine ecosystems and communities. 

The Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School In Nigeria and Ghana (COESSING; https://coessing.org) has been run for one week every year since 2015. The school, an endorsed project of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), has provided a platform for approximately 1,000 scientists from Africa, the United States, and Europe to exchange scientific knowledge, to network, to learn, and to collaborate. Our interdisciplinary, multicultural, and multi-institutional approach offers a model for knowledge exchange across the globe and across different educational levels.