Ocean Acidification

CALL FOR APPLICATION: Ocean Acidification Monitoring Training Program
The Eastern Tropical Equatorial Atlantic Ocean Acidification Training Center, in collaboration with The Ocean Foundation, OceanTeacher Global Academy, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, OMI – Ocean Margins Initiative and the University of Ghana, is pleased to invite applications for an upcoming Ocean Acidification Monitoring Training Program.

📍 Venue: University of Ghana
📅 In-person Training: 29 June – 3 July 2026

This program aims to strengthen regional capacity to monitor, understand, and communicate ocean acidification across the Eastern Tropical Equatorial Atlantic region. Participants will gain hands-on experience in OA monitoring, coastal carbonate chemistry measurements, data analysis and management, and science communication, while building valuable regional networks.

🔬 Training Structure
1️⃣ Pre-training Online Course
Selected participants will complete a mandatory Ocean Acidification online course offered through the IOC-UNESCO OceanTeacher Global Academy.
📅 4 May – 22 June 2026

2️⃣ In-person Practical Training
📍 University of Ghana
📅 29 June – 3 July 2026
Focused on hands-on methodologies, best practices for coastal carbonate chemistry measurements, data analysis, management, and reporting.

👩‍🔬 Who Should Apply?
We encourage applications from:
• Early-career ocean scientists and researchers
• Marine technicians and laboratory personnel
• Graduate students working on marine and coastal systems
• Professionals involved in ocean monitoring, policy, or marine resource management

Priority will be given to applicants from countries in the Eastern Tropical Equatorial Atlantic region.

💰 Funding
Selected applicants will receive travel, accommodation, and meal support.

📅 Key Dates
🟢 Applications Open: 10 April 2026
⏳ Deadline: 25 April 2026
📩 Notification: 30 April 2026

🔗 Apply here:
https://lnkd.in/dbu-Xpsc
We look forward to welcoming the next generation of ocean acidification practitioners from across the region 🌍

Contact us for any information/enquiry
💬 oa.trainingcenter@gmail.com
💬 fatawoaabubakar@gmail.com

The IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre is hosting a second Training Course on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement – Assessing the Impact on Marine Organisms. The deadline to apply is Thursday April 30th (extended from what is indicated in the linked announcement). To apply, applicants will need to submit their application through their national authority to the IAEA – in most cases, this will be your country’s permanent mission to the IAEA. Travel and lodging for all scientists accepted to the course will be covered. Priority will be given to early-career scientists with experience in marine environmental changes who have already received training on ocean acidification and seawater carbonate chemistry. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in biological response research and who are interested in conducting studies on the ecological impact of OAE. If you have questions on the application procedure, please contact Ms Lina Hansson (L.Hansson(at)iaea.org) or Ms Carolina Galdino (C.Galdino(at)iaea.org).

Dates: 15 – 19 June 2026

Location: IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, Monaco.

Application Forms

Introduction
The Training Course on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement — Assessing the Impact on Marine Organisms is part of the capacity building program of the IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC). The program aims to support IAEA Member States to minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification (Sustainable Development Goal 14.3) and study the impacts of ocean-based solutions.

The course is organized by the IAEA OA-ICC in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation through the OACIS Initiative (Ocean Acidification and other ocean Changes – Impacts and Solutions).

Objectives
The ocean is under pressure from warming, acidification and oxygen loss, adversely impacting marine ecosystems and the communities and societies who depend on them. But the ocean, covering 70% of Earth’s surface, can also be a vital part of the solution and our ally to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement to limit warming to well below 2º C would not only require drastic cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but also the active removal of carbon CO2 on the order of 100–1000 Gt CO2 over the 21st century (IPCC, 2018). Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) approach which is receiving growing interest from scientists, policy makers and industry. It entails the addition of alkaline materials to the sea with the goal of increasing the ocean’s potential to absorb CO2. There is limited scientific information to date about the impact that OAE might have on marine organisms and ecosystems. Building technical expertise to assess ecological impacts of OAE is critically needed to allow for informed policy decisions about this approach.

The aim of this course is to train scientists on how to perform laboratory experiments on the potential impact of OAE on marine organisms. The course includes both theoretical and practical exercises with the goals of designing purposeful experiments, analyzing complex datasets, avoiding typical pitfalls, and ensuring data comparability with other studies. Lectures on the broader context and implications of OAE will also be provided (e.g., societal and governance aspects). The course will be largely based on the 2023 Guide to Best Practices for Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Research, especially the chapters on experimental design.

Target Audience
The course is open to 10-12 trainees. Priority will be given to early-career scientists with experience in marine environmental changes who have already received training on ocean acidification and seawater carbonate chemistry. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in biological response research and who are interested in conducting studies on the ecological impact of OAE. At least one publication in the field of marine environmental changes is required.

Working Language
English

…

Participation and Registration
Scientists wishing to participate in the event must be designated by an IAEA Member State or should be members of organizations that have been invited to attend. In order to be designated by an IAEA Member State, participants are requested to send the Participation Form (Form A) to their competent national authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA, or National Atomic Energy Authority) for onward transmission to the IAEA by 17 April 2026. Participants who are members of an organization invited to attend are requested to send the Participation Form (Form A) through their organization to the IAEA by the above deadline.
Selected participants will be informed in due course on the procedures to be followed with regard to administrative and financial matters. Participants are hereby informed that the personal data they submit will be processed in line with the Agency’s Personal Data and Privacy Policy and is collected solely for the purpose(s) of reviewing and assessing the application and to complete logistical arrangements where required. The IAEA may also use the contact details of Applicants to inform them of the IAEA’s scientific and technical publications, or the latest employment opportunities and current open vacancies at the IAEA. These secondary purposes are consistent with the IAEA’s mandate.

Additional Requirements
The participants should have a university degree in marine chemistry, biology, oceanography, or a related scientific field, and must have already received training on ocean acidification and seawater carbonate chemistry or performed ocean acidification biological response experiments. Selection will be based on merit and interest. Your applications should include:

• A motivation letter with a short description of your research interests, why you would like to
  participate, and your plans regarding present and future research on OAE (max one A4 page)
• CV with publication list

Registration Is Now Open

Registration for the 6th International Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO₂ World is now open. Workshops and field trips are scheduled to run concurrently during the symposium in addition to special and general session offerings.

We encourage delegates to review the options carefully before registering as workshops and field trips will require pre-event sign up.  Some offerings have capped numbers or require an expression of interest.

Register Here

Reminder: Abstract Submissions Due by: 1 April 2026

Abstract submissions remain open until 1 April 2026 (midnight, any time zone). Full details and the submission portal are available on the website.

Early acceptance may be considered for delegates with time sensitive funding needs; please email highco2@confer.co.nz with a brief explanation and ensure your abstract is submitted via the online form.

Submit an Abstract

The Call for Abstracts is now open. Please submit your abstract no later than 1 April 2026 (any time zone). Full submission guidelines are provided below.

A limited number of early acceptances are available for applicants with time‑sensitive funding requirements. To request early consideration, please email highco2@confer.co.nz with your abstract submitted through the online form and a brief explanation of why early approval is needed.

Abstracts are invited that align with the themes and special sessions listed below. Details of confirmed special sessions are available here.
During submission, authors should select the theme or special session that best matches their abstract.

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT

GCOOS and Gulf of America Coastal Acidification Network (GCAN) are seeking to support the next generation of leaders in ocean and coastal acidification in the Gulf states by inviting applications to a dedicated workshop on ocean and coastal acidification (OA/COA). The workshop will focus on teaching students how to transform ocean and coastal acidification science into management and policy solutions.

Through this award, GCOOS will welcome a cohort of Gulf-region graduate students to attend the GCOOS Spring Meeting, the GCOOS 20th Anniversary celebration and allow them to participate in the workshop. Students will engage with scientists, managers, industry and educators during this event.

The full program of activities will be shared with the awardees prior to the meeting, but the workshop will include technical skills training, GCOOS Board Members’ panel and campus tour.

During the workshop, students will present at a poster session during the GCOOS Spring Members’ meeting & anniversary celebration on April 14, 2026, then join the GCAN workshop April 15 and 16. The workshop’s first day will focus on a technical core with applied tools in ocean acidification led by the GCAN steering committee chair, followed by a panel with GCOOS Board Members and then a working session designed to help students translate posters into a two-minute briefing for resource managers, stakeholders and general audiences using plain-language messaging. The final day will conclude with recording video summaries of the students’/postdoctoral researchers’ experience and tour of the Texas A&M campus.

Student Eligibility Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a graduate program or working as a year 1-3 postdoctoral researcher at institutions in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana or Texas;
• Be authorized to fly to College Station, Texas, to attend the meeting in person (i.e., visa is up to date);
• Have an interest in management, policy and/or research related to ocean and coastal acidification issues.

Student Responsibilities

• Attend full meeting in person (April 14-18, 2026);
• Present a poster on current work relevant to OA/COA or closely linked stressors (e.g., hypoxia, eutrophication, HABs, carbonate chemistry variability);
• Participate actively in the GCAN workshop and contribute to a short cohort deliverable (manager-ready synthesis, shared resource list, or student priority questions).

Application Deadline

• 11:59 p.m. CT Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Application

Submit one combined PDF via THIS FORM with:

• Letter of intent (max 2 pages) that describes your interest in attending the GCOOS Spring Members’ Meeting and GCAN Workshop, how your interest fits with Gulf of America Ocean and Coastal Acidification needs, learning goals, and how you will apply outcomes;
• Poster abstract (max 300 words) with title, authors/affiliations, and summary;
• CV (max 2 pages);
• Advisor support letter (1 page recommended) that confirms good standing and availability to travel.

🗓 February 18, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM EST / 4:00 PM CET
🔗 Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/ebYA5T86

Join us for a timely discussion with OA Alliance members and partners.

As governments are being asked about marine carbon dioxide removal as part of broader climate strategies, clear guidance is needed to understand how mCDR intersects with ocean acidification.

On February 18, 2026, OA Alliance will release and discuss new support materials designed to help government members:
💧Navigate the links between mCDR and ocean acidification
💧Understand the current state of the science
💧Discuss desired outcomes, risks, and capacity needs related to mCDR strategies

Date: January 23, 2026
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 AM ET // 12:00 -13:30 UTC
Location: Virtual

Register

Join us for a webinar showcasing research from Pier2Peer Alumni on Friday, 23 January 2026 from 12:00- 1:30 pm UTC. In this webinar, we’ll be joined by two Pier2Peer Scholarship recipients to learn about their research and mentorship experiences.

Dr. M. Anand will be presenting “ARMS (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures) – an emerging tool to monitor ocean acidification and coral reef health”. Dr. M. Anand is an Associate Professor and Head in the Dept. of Marine and Coastal Studies, School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu, India. During his participation in Pier2Peer, he was mentored by Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai and received the 2023 Pier2Peer Scholarship.

Dr. Georgina D. Cepeda will be presenting “Planktonic calcifiers under pressure: implementation and results from ocean acidification training in the SW Atlantic Ocean”. Dr. Cepeda is a researcher at Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Mar del Plata, Argentina. During her tenure with Pier2Peer, Dr. Cepeda was mentored by Dr. Nina Bednarsek and received the 2025 Pier2Peer Scholarship. 

Thu, Jan 8, 2026 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM CET

Register

Join Us for the Ocean Acidification Day of Action Webinar

The Coastal Acidification Networks (CANs) of the Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of America, Southeast, and Caribbean are pleased to host a webinar in recognition of Ocean Acidification Day of Action on January 8.

What is Ocean Acidification Day of Action? Ocean Acidification Day of Action was established by the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) to raise awareness about ocean acidification and the significance of the global average seawater pH of 8.1. While seawater remains alkaline, the decline from approximately 8.2 over the past 250 years reflects a 26% increase in acidity, driven largely by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Now recognized as an international event, Ocean Acidification Day of Action highlights ongoing efforts to understand, mitigate, and adapt to the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and economies. For more information, visit the NOAA OAP webpage: https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/2025-ocean-acidification-day-or-action/

Guest Speakers

Dr. Aurea Rodríguez Santiago, Founder and Director, Taller Ecológico de Puerto Rico

Dr. De’Marcus Robinson, Postdoctoral Fellow, Florida A&M University

Each speaker, alongside CAN coordinators, will deliver a 15-minute presentation highlighting their work and the actions they are taking to better understand and address the impacts of ocean acidification. The webinar will conclude with a public panel discussion and Q&A, creating space for dialogue on research, community engagement, and collaborative actions to advance ocean acidification awareness and solutions.

This webinar is open to researchers, managers, educators, students, and community members interested in learning more about ocean acidification and pathways for action.

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO invites all ocean acidification scientists to contribute to the sixth annual global ocean acidification data collection for the Sustainable Development Goal 14.3.1 Indicator: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations. The Indicator highlights ocean acidification as a major stressor on marine ecosystems and the importance of global observations of ocean acidification to the sustainable use of ocean resources (Sustainable Development Goal 14).

All IOC Member States have agreed to submit data to this Indicator, where available. By submitting your datasets, you will increase the visibility of your own work both internationally and with your national government. An invitation for data submissions has also been sent to IOC’s International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Programme’s (IODE) National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODCs).

Background
In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda and a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including a goal dedicated to the ocean, SDG 14, which calls to ‘conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’. This constitutes an essential point of reference for IOC’s engagement with its Member States, as well as for its programmes at the global, regional and country levels. IOC was identified as the custodian agency for two SDG-14 targets and related indicators, namely ocean acidification (Target 14.3) and marine scientific research (Target 14.a). As the custodian agency, IOC was tasked with developing the methodology for the SDG 14.3.1 Indicator ‘Average marine acidity (pH) measured at an agreed suite of representative sampling stations’. IOC is further responsible to collect relevant data towards the indicator from Member States and to report the results to the United Nations.

Methodology
The SDG Indicator Methodology 14.3.1 provides the necessary guidance on how to conduct ocean acidification observation, using different types of technology and measuring different variables, including pH, carbon dioxide partial pressure [pCO2], total dissolved inorganic carbon [CT/DIC], and total alkalinity [AT/TA], as well as salinity and temperature. It further provides support on how to and what kind of datasets to submit to IOC, to ensure the production of quality controlled global, and possibly regional, products. The Methodology was developed in collaboration with IOC’s IODE programme, international ocean acidification experts (including data managers), and the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON).

Date and time: 9:00–15:30, Sunday, February 8, 2026

Location: University of Glasgow, room details TBA

Title of the event: Designing multiple driver experiments

Conveners: Sinéad Collins, University of Edinburgh, Simin Gao, University of Edinburgh, Paul Renaud, Akvaplan-niva

Description: The MEDDLE resources were developed to help researchers design and carry out tractable and comparable multiple driver experiments. In this workshop, participants will learn how to use these resources to design multiple driver experiments. While the concepts and methods discussed can apply to many systems, examples used during the workshop will focus on manipulative experiments rather than observational data.

The workshop is geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs, and ECRs new to multiple driver research, and focuses heavily on the rationale of different experimental designs, and analysis strategies for multiple driver experiments. A basic working knowledge of statistics is needed (regression analysis), and statistical analysis examples will use R. Participants should bring a laptop with R and R studio installed.

Topics include:

• Defining a research question
• Identifying relevant drivers
• Identifying biological traits and responses
• Experimental designs for multiple driver experiments
• Statistical analysis plans

Hosted by the SCOR project “Changing Ocean Biological Systems”, this free workshop will be led by Sinéad Collins, University of Edinburgh (UK), Simin Gao, University of Edinburgh (UK), Paul Renaud, Akvaplan-niva (Norway). Spaces are limited. If you would like to attend, contact Sinéad Collins (s.collins@ed.ac.uk) or fill out this form by January 15, 2026 to register your interest. Limited to 24 people, so please register early!

Please include a brief (<150 words) statement outlining (a) your experience carrying out Ocean acidification or multiple driver experiments (if any) and (b) how you plan to incorporate multiple driver experiments into your work.

For more information see: https://meddle-scor149.org/decision-support-tool/

SAVE THE DATE

Mā te kōrero, kia mārama. Mā te mārama, kia mahi tahi,
Mā te mahi tahi, kia mōhio.
The 6th International Symposium on the Ocean in a High CO₂ World
Moving from Understanding to Action using Multiple Knowledge Systems

📍 Tākina Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wellington, New Zealand
📅 13–16 October 2026

Set against Wellington’s rugged coastlines, join researchers and other thought leaders from across the globe to explore the impacts of rising CO₂ and help shape future ocean science solutions. 
Experience Wellington through ecosanctuary tours, SCUBA dives in Taputeranga Marine Reserve, and a wide range of technical workshops.

Shape the Programme

Call for Special Sessions
Help shape the conversation at the Symposium by leading a special session that inspires dialogue and drives impact. We welcome topics that challenge thinking, advance knowledge, and spark collaboration.

Workshops, Discussions & Training Sessions
Each day of the Symposium includes open periods for 1–3 hour sessions dedicated to workshops, community discussions, and training. If you, your organisation, or company would like to host one of these sessions, this is your opportunity to share expertise and foster collaboration.

Meetings & Side Events
If your organisation, working group, or research collaboration would like to hold a short meeting during the Symposium, we can offer a 24-person meeting room for 1–4 hour sessions. You can also make a submission to hold an event before or after the symposium at nearby venues. 

Deadline: 23 January 2026 | Decisions announced first half of February.

Partner With Us

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Supporting this symposium offers your organisation a valuable opportunity to engage with a global community of scientists, practitioners, and decision-makers working on ocean and climate issues. Express your interest by reply email or via the website.
 
🌐 Learn more & submit proposals: https://highco2-vi.org/
🔔 Sign up for event reminders

Contact Us

Book Now – 18 Dec 2025 12:30 pm to 01:15 pm Europe/London

Ocean acidification, the progressive reduction in seawater pH caused by rising atmospheric CO₂, represents one of the most pressing threats to marine ecosystems. By altering the carbonate chemistry of the ocean, it compromises the ability of calcifying organisms, such as corals, shellfish, and some plankton, to build and maintain skeletons and shells, with cascading effects on biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal communities. Understanding and monitoring these changes is essential to predict impacts, guide mitigation strategies, and support resilient management of marine resources.

This talk will explore different methods of ocean acidification monitoring, highlighting approaches from historical reconstructions to cutting-edge autonomous sensing. Paleo proxies, such as the chemical composition of coral skeletons allow us to reconstruct long-term trends in pH, providing context for current changes and identifying natural variability over centuries. Building on these foundations, in situ measurements using traditional shipboard sampling have offered high-accuracy snapshots of carbonate chemistry, but remain limited in temporal and spatial coverage.

Recent advances in autonomous sensing now allow continuous, high-resolution monitoring of Essential Ocean Variables across a range of ecosystems from shallow coral reefs to the deep open ocean. Lab-on-chip sensors, capable of measuring pH, alkalinity, and other key parameters, provide unprecedented insights into the dynamics of marine carbonate chemistry under natural and anthropogenic stressors. These technologies have been deployed across several platforms, including research vessels, moorings, commercial operations subsea vehicles of opportunity, revealing how biogeochemical processes respond to environmental variability.

The talk will also highlight the practical application of these tools through capacity-building efforts in Small Island Developing States. By providing monitoring kits and training local stakeholders, these programmes support locally driven data collection, enhancing understanding of ocean acidification in regions highly vulnerable to climate change. Partnerships with industry have further enabled the translation of research into operational tools for sustainable marine management. Bringing these approaches together highlights both what we understand about ocean acidification and where improved observations are still needed. The talk will reflect on the progress made so far and the opportunities that new tools and partnerships provide for expanding future monitoring efforts.

We invite abstract submissions for our session at the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026 (Bruges, 17–20 November 2026). Ocean acidification (OA) is progressing rapidly, yet its ecosystem- and biodiversity-level consequences remain insufficiently understood. This session will bring together researchers working on OA and experts in marine biodiversity assessment to discuss current knowledge, emerging techniques, and strategies to evaluate and minimize OA impacts.

We welcome contributions from laboratory, field, natural analogue, mesocosm, monitoring, modelling, and conceptual studies, as well as work using eDNA, omics, imaging, and traditional ecological knowledge. Our goal is to build a multidisciplinary perspective on how OA affects biodiversity and how resilience can be supported under global change.

Topics include (but are not limited to):
• OA impacts on species, communities, and ecosystems
• Biodiversity responses to multiple stressors
• Monitoring, observation systems, and long-term datasets
• eDNA, metagenomics, imaging, and emerging tools
• Modelling and predictive approaches
• Resilience, recovery, adaptation, and mitigation strategies

Abstract deadline: 17 March 2026

Submit via: https://www.wcmb2026.org (select Session 1.4)

Convenor and contact person: Sanja Grđan, University of Dubrovnik. sanja.grdjan@unidu.hr

Join us in Bruges to strengthen the scientific foundation needed to understand and address the impacts of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity.

• Date: Monday, 17 November 2025
• Time: 5:00pm – 5:50pm (Brazilian Time Zone)
• Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion at COP 30, Belem Brazil

In partnership with Ministry of Environment and Climate Fiji and Pacific Community

Join us for the film premiere of ‘Changing Waters: Time for Action on Ocean Acidification,” featuring OA Alliance members’ stories and experiences tackling ocean acidification and climate-ocean change in North America, Latin America and the Pacific Island Region.  

Filmed in Washington State, Colombia, and Fiji, this character-led short film follows real individuals from government, indigenous communities, seafood industry, and scientists who are responding to the accelerating impacts of ocean acidification and calling for action.

The film aims to inspire broader awareness of this work and accelerate action at a critical moment for climate policy and financing.

The premiere will be followed by a short roundtable highlighting the science and policy leadership shown by Pacific Island countries.   On all fronts, Fiji and the Pacific Island Region is leading the way on connecting applied ocean acidification science to policy and action.  

The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) is excited to invite you to Ocean Acidification Week 2025 — a virtual forum showcasing ocean acidification knowledge from around the world!

📅 13-17 October, 2025
🌏 Learn from over 50 international ocean acidification experts across 22 sessions!

🔗 View the schedule and register for sessions here: https://lnkd.in/eSvRZTgm

Echinoderms exposed to shifting environmental conditions possess biological mechanisms that allow them to persist. These include intraspecific processes acting at different evolutionary and temporal scales: local genomic adaptations shaped by selective pressures over generations, and phenotypic plasticity expressed as individuals adjust to genotype–environment interactions during their lifetimes. The relationship between echinoderms and their symbiotic microbiota may further influence their adaptive capacity. Our group has adopted a multidisciplinary approach to examine the adaptive potential of key echinoderm species under ocean warming and acidification, combining observations along natural temperature and pH gradients with controlled laboratory experiments. We find diverse stress responses and adaptive strategies—ranging from local genomic differentiation and shifts in gene expression to metabolic adjustments—that vary between species. However, these intra- and interspecific mechanisms do not always align. Differences in evolutionary history and thermal tolerance may underpin the contrasting resilience of echinoderms, offering crucial insights into their survival prospects under future oceanographic change.

Dates: 24 November – 5 December 2025

Location: IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, Monaco.

Deadline for receipt of application from the nominating national authority: 15 September 2025

Form A and Form C

The course is organized by the IAEA OA-ICC in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation through the OACIS Initiative (Ocean Acidification and other ocean Changes – Impacts and Solutions).

Introduction

Ocean acidification is a global environmental stressor that threatens marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Ocean acidification is caused by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide being absorbed by the ocean, resulting in changes to seawater carbonate chemistry, including a drop in pH. Due to global concerns about its consequences, ocean acidification is included in international policies such as Target 3 of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and Target 8 of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

The IAEA’s Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) supports IAEA Member States to minimize and adapt to OA and report towards SDG 14.3 and the GBF, with a strong focus on building capacity to study ocean acidification and related stressors and promoting international collaboration and coordination.

Ocean acidification is not happening in isolation, but in combination with other human-driven pressures, including pollution, warming, and oxygen loss. The impact of multiple ocean stressors on marine life and ecosystem function is not well understood, yet this information is crucial to inform adaptation strategies that might minimize negative effects on organisms, ecosystems, and associated
socioeconomic benefits.

The Third Winter School on Ocean Acidification and Multiple Stressors is part of the capacity building program of the OA-ICC. This two-week training course will provide participating scientists with a thorough understanding about key concepts and experimental design used to study the impacts of ocean acidification in the context of additional stressors.

Objectives

The aim of the Winter School is to train early-career scientists who already have experience researching ocean acidification on how to study acidification in the context of other co-occurring stressors. Through lectures and practical exercises in the laboratory, the students will gain understanding of key concepts in multiple-stressor research (e.g., What is a stressor? What is a mode of action? What is an interaction?), purposeful experimental design, and analysis of complex datasets. During the course, participants will collaborate on a joint laboratory experiment to elucidate the effects of three simultaneous drivers on marine organisms, with the objective to publish the results in a collective article after the training.

Target Audience

The course is open to 10-12 trainees. Priority will be given to early-career scientists with experience in marine environmental change with a focus on ocean acidification; a background in biological sciences is preferred. At least one publication in the field of marine environmental change is required.

Working Language: English

…

Participation and Registration

All persons wishing to participate in the event have to be designated by an IAEA Member State or should be members of organizations that have been invited to attend.

In order to be designated by an IAEA Member State, participants are requested to send the Participation Form (Form A) to their competent national authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA or National Atomic Energy Authority) for onward transmission to the IAEA by 15 September 2025. Participants who are members of an organization invited to attend are requested to send the Participation Form (Form A) through their organization to the IAEA by the above deadline.

Selected participants will be informed in due course on the procedures to be followed with regard to administrative and financial matters.

Participants are hereby informed that the personal data they submit will be processed in line with the Agency’s Personal Data and Privacy Policy and is collected solely for the purpose(s) of reviewing and assessing the application and to complete logistical arrangements where required. The IAEA may also use the contact details of Applicants to inform them of the IAEA’s scientific and technical publications, or the latest employment opportunities and current open vacancies at the IAEA. These secondary purposes are consistent with the IAEA’s mandate.

…

Additional Requirements

Participants should have a university degree in marine chemistry, biology, oceanography or a related scientific field, and should be currently involved in or planning to study the ecological impact of multiple stressors, including ocean acidification. Experience in R is strongly encouraged.

Selection will be based on merit and interest. Applications should include:

• A motivation letter with a short description of the candidate’s research interests and how the course would benefit the applicant’s current or future research on ocean acidification and multiple stressors (max one A4 page)
• CV with publication list