The second edition of the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School takes place from 3 to 9 October 2026 in Cotonou, Benin, hosted by the ICMPA–UNESCO Chair at the Université d’Abomey-Calavi.
The Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS), hosted at www.ggosss.org is a high-level, international training program dedicated to strengthening ocean science capacity among early-career scientists from francophone West and Central Africa – one of the most underrepresented regions in global ocean observing networks. The 2026 edition (GGOSSS 2026) is the second edition of this initiative and will take place from 3–9 October 2026 at the International Chair in Mathematical Physics and Applications (ICMPA – UNESCO Chair), Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, Benin.
GGOSSS directly supports POGO’s core strategic objectives. Under the Capacity Development pillar, it builds the skills of the next generation of ocean scientists in a region with acute training needs. Under the Innovation in Ocean Observing pillar, it equips participants with hands-on expertise in the observational tools – satellite remote sensing, in-situ instrumentation, and numerical modelling – that underpin the global ocean observing system. Under the Outreach and Advocacy pillar, it strengthens partnerships between African, European, and North American institutions, and bridges science, policy, and coastal management.
The Gulf of Guinea is one of the least observed ocean basins globally, despite facing severe and growing environmental challenges including coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and the collapse of fisheries that support millions of livelihoods. Building a cohort of trained ocean scientists in francophone West and Central Africa is essential for improving regional ocean observations and addressing these challenges through evidence-based policy.
Building on the success of GGOSSS 2025, which trained 36 young scientists from six countries, GGOSSS 2026 will welcome 40–50 participants and 15+ instructors from Africa, Europe, and North America. The program is structured around five integrated scientific pillars directly relevant to the Gulf of Guinea: (1) Python-based ocean data analysis, (2) satellite remote sensing using Copernicus Marine Service products, (3) in-situ observations and instrumentation, (4) numerical ocean modelling, and (5) coastal process monitoring and climate vulnerability. The first two days focus on foundational lectures covering ocean dynamics, Copernicus Marine Services, and data analysis tools. Day 3 features a full field campaign in the Nokoué Lagoon and coastal zone, where all participants collect real data including CTD profiles, water quality measurements, GPS shoreline surveys, and bathymetry. Days 4–6 consist of intensive hands-on training in three specialization tracks: in-situ observations and instrumentation, satellite remote sensing, and numerical modelling using CROCO. The final day is dedicated to group project presentations integrating field data, satellite products, and model outputs, followed by mentoring sessions on careers, research pathways, and scientific publishing.
Cotonou provides a unique real-world laboratory, facing severe coastal erosion and shoreline retreat, sea-level rise, recurrent flooding, and complex lagoon–ocean interactions between the Nokoué Lagoon and the Cotonou Channel. Strong anthropogenic pressures further amplify these environmental challenges, making Cotonou one of the most climate-vulnerable coastal cities in West Africa, and an ideal setting to directly connect scientific tools with real environmental challenges affecting the Gulf of Guinea region.
