ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE ON OCEAN SYNERGY REMOTE SENSING 2025

Welcome

This is the 8th ESA Ocean Training Course of the series devoted to you – the next generation of Earth Observation (EO) scientists.

The ocean covers 74% of our planet surface and is difficult to sample properly because it is in continuous motion.  Satellite measurements play an incredibly important role in this respect because they provide high quality, quasi-synoptic regular repeat coverage data of the global ocean every few days. Oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical to sustainable development. They contain 97% of the planet’s water. Oceans contribute to poverty eradication by creating sustainable livelihoods and a broad range of opportunities for work employment. Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. In addition, oceans are crucial for global food security and human health. They are also the primary regulator of the global climate, regional weather development, an important sink for greenhouse gases and they provide us with water and the oxygen we breathe. Finally, oceans host huge reservoirs of biodiversity.

Goal

Our goal during ESA #OTC25 is to help you to understand and exploit data from ESA and operational EO satellite missions for science and application development and prepare you as future ambassadors of Ocean Science.

Peter Thompson, United Nations Special Envoy for the Ocean, explains why this is so important:

There can be no healthy planet without a healthy ocean and the ocean’s health is currently measurably in decline. As the future generation of ocean scientists, it is upon your shoulders to advance ocean science to overcome the drastically incomplete knowledge we have of the ocean’s properties. Only through respect for the best of oceanscience can we achieve SDG 14 goal of conserving and sustainably using the ocean’s resources.

Challenge to students of the ESA #OTC25 from Peter Thompson, United Nations Special Envoy for the Ocean.

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs – see https://sdgs.un.org/goals), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

The One Ocean Expedition

The ESA Ocean Synergy Training Course 2025 is part of the One Ocean Expedition, which is a scientific and educational voyage around the Northern Hemisphere oceans, aboard the tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, in 2025-2026. The expedition aims to create attention and share knowledge about the ocean’s crucial role for a sustainable future, as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art ocean science instruments and will collect data on ocean physics, chemistry and biology throughout the journey. The expedition will also serve as a floating university, bringing students and young leaders together, and as a platform for outreach, inspiration and engagement for the ocean. Read more about the expedition.

Application

Embark on an educational adventure with the ESA Ocean Synergy Training Course 2025. This is your opportunity to join a cohort of dedicated Master, PhD students, and Post Docs on the Statsraad Lehmkuhl. Dive into the practical application of satellite data analysis, immerse yourself in the dynamics of shipboard life, and contribute to cutting-edge oceanographic research. Applications are open now  for this unique program that combines scientific rigor with the thrill of hands-on learning at sea. Don’t miss the chance to enhance your research and apply for an experience that will steer your career towards new horizons.
Discover more about the application process by visiting the official training course website 👉 https://oceantrainingcourse2025.esa.int/