Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School

August 25-29, 2025 | Faculty of Science, University of Dschang (Cameroon)

With the support of

EU-Copernicus-CopernicusMarine-implement

2025 GGOSSS School

We are delighted to share the success of the first edition of the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS 2025), held at the University of Dschang, Cameroon, from August 25–29, 2025. This landmark event gathered 36 trainees and 12 instructors from six francophone Gulf of Guinea countries—Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, and Senegal—for a week of intensive training, exchange, and collaboration.

The program opened with a memorable ceremony, featuring inspiring remarks from University of Dschang leaders and partners, underscoring the importance of building scientific capacity to safeguard the Gulf of Guinea’s marine environment.

Over the course of the week, participants engaged in lectures, workshops, and thematic sessions covering key areas of ocean science:

Fundamentals of Oceanography – circulation, currents, and climate interactions
Marine Biogeochemistry & Coastal Ecosystems
In-situ and Remote Sensing Observations – including ADCPs, CTDs, drifters, and satellites like SWOT
Numerical Modeling with CROCO and regional applications
Python Training for data analysis and visualization

Hands-on workshops enabled participants to specialize in three tracks: in-situ measurements, remote sensing, and numerical modeling. A highlight of the program was the field excursion, where students applied techniques learned in class to real-world data collection and analysis.

Beyond science, GGOSSS 2025 featured career-building and policy discussions. Experts addressed maritime security challenges, pathways for project development and funding, and the integration of artificial intelligence into ocean sciences.

The event not only strengthened technical expertise but also fostered a network of emerging ocean scientists committed to addressing pressing environmental challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

We extend heartfelt thanks to our partners, organizers, and trainees who made this inaugural edition a resounding success. Together, we are building the foundation for a new generation of ocean science leaders in West and Central Africa.

https://www.ggosss.org/post/gulf-of-guinea-ocean-sciences-summer-school-ggosss-2025-first-edition-in-dschang-cameroon

https://www.univ-dschang.org/gulf-of-guinea-ocean-sciences-summer-school/

https://academia.campusjeunes.net/news/lancement-de-la-gulf-of-guinea-ocean-sciences-summer-school-une-initiative-pionniere-pour-former-et-inspirer-la-nouvelle-generation-de-chercheurs-marins-universite-de-dschang/

Photos

GGOSSS 2025: Schedule

GGOSSS 2025: Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee for the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS) is made up of a diverse group of oceanographic experts, researchers, and educators dedicated to ensuring the program’s scientific rigor, relevance, and impact. This committee will oversee the curriculum development, coordinate with lecturers and trainers, and evaluate the program’s success. Committee members will bring specialized knowledge in oceanography, climate science, data analysis, and marine conservation, as well as experience working in the Gulf of Guinea region.

Workshop Chair of GGOSSS:

Dr. Babette C. Tchonang ( U.S. Naval Research Laboratory & Florida State University, USA)

Scientific Committes of GGOSSS:

Prof. Christian Kenfack Sadem (University of Dschang, Cameroon)
Prof. Anselme Crepin Mama (Université d’Ebolowa, Cameroon)
Dr. Babette C. Tchonang (U.S. Naval Research Laboratory & Florida State University , USA)
Dr. Odilon Joël Houndegnonto (ICPMA-UNESCO Chair, Brest, France)
Dr. Victor Okpeitcha (Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin)
Dr. Franck Ghomsi (University of Manitoba, Canada)
Dr. Alina Nathanaël Dossa (University of Miami, USA)
Dr Fernand Assene (Université d’Ebolowa, Cameroon)
Dr. Sandrine Djakoure (Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d'Ivoire)

Meet the team

You will find here the people who helped organize the summer school.

You'll also find instructors.

Dr. Babette Christelle Tchonang

Instructor | Lead Organizer

Babette is a physical oceanographer at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Florida State University, USA. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and worked on the validation of sea surface height and ocean currents from the SWOT satellite mission. She also leads the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS), supporting early-career scientists across African French-speaking countries.

Interests / Expertise

Satellite Altimetry
Ocean Surface Currents
Ocean Data Assimilation & Analysis

Dr. Alina Nathanaël Dossa

Instructor | Organizer

Alina is a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Miami, specializing in mesoscale and submesoscale ocean dynamics in the Tropical Atlantic. His research leverages SWOT satellite data and in-situ observations to investigate Agulhas leakage and its impact on ocean mixing and climate resilience

Interests / Expertise

Mesoscale and Submesoscale Dynamics
Satellite and In-situ Ocean Observations
Ocean Circulation and Climate Resilience

Prof. Christian Kenfack Sadem

Instructor | Organizer

Christian is a professor at the University of Dschang, Cameroon, specializing in condensed matter physics and ocean-climate interactions. His research investigates nanoscale systems and the Atlantic Ocean’s influence on African climate, particularly the role of the Atlantic cold tongue in monsoon variability.

Interests / Expertise

Condensed Matter Physics
Ocean-Climate Interactions
Regional Climate Modeling

Prof. Anselme Crépin Mama

Instructor | Organizer

Crépin is Head of the Department of Basic Scientific Education at ENSTMO, University of Ebolowa, Cameroon, and a specialist in marine and coastal biogeochemistry and environmental management. He coordinates national coastal monitoring programs and actively contributes to research on coastal risk reduction and ecosystem health.

Interests / Expertise

Marine and Coastal Biogeochemistry
Environment and Risk Management
Numerical and Statistical Data Analysis

Dr. Victor O. Okpeitcha

Instructor | Organizer

Victor is Head of the Lake Nokoué Observatory in Benin and a specialist in lagoon systems and hydro-meteorological field techniques. With over a decade of experience, he leads scientific campaigns and environmental monitoring across inland and coastal waters in West Africa.

Interests / Expertise

Lagoon and Coastal Systems
Hydro-Meteorological Instrumentation
Scientific Field Campaigns and Environmental Monitoring

Dr. Odilon J. Houndegnonto

Instructor | Organizer

Odilon is an assciate researcher at ICPMA-UNESCO Chair, specializing in ocean-climate interactions. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His research combines satellite and in-situ observations with numerical modeling to study ocean responses to climate change.

Interests / Expertise

Climate-Ocean Interactions
Air-Sea Exchange and Freshwater Cycle
Satellite Observations and Ocean Modeling

Dr. Assene Mvongo Fernand Bernie

Instructor | Organiser

Fernand is a Lecturer and Researcher at ENSTMO, University of Ebolowa, Cameroon, specializing in internal tides, mesoscale processes, and ocean model evaluation. His work focuses on improving ocean forecast systems and advancing coastal monitoring and water quality studies.

Interests / Expertise

Internal Tides and Mesoscale Dynamics
Ocean Modeling and Forecasting
Coastal Monitoring and Environmental Quality

Dr. Sarah Kacimi

Instructor

Sahra is a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, specializing in the role of sea ice in the global climate system. She leads the sea ice working group for ICESat-2 and is the science lead for NASA’s contribution to the upcoming CRISTAL mission.

Interests / Expertise

Sea Ice and Climate Interactions
Satellite Altimetry (Lidar and Radar)
Snow Depth Retrieval and Remote Sensing

Dr. Grégroire Abessolo

Instructor

Grégoire is Head of the Oceanography, Hydrography and Meteorology Engineering Department at NASMOST, University of Ebolowa, Cameroon. He is an oceanographer and coastal remote sensing expert. His work has led to the development and implementation of video-based coastal monitoring technology across the region.

Interests / Expertise

Coastal Morphodynamics and Sea Level Variability
Coastal Remote Sensing
Climate Change Adaptation and Coastal Resilience

Prof. TEUGWA Epouse MOFOR Clautilde

Organizer

Clautilde is a Professor of Biochemistry and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Dschang, Cameroon. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Phytobiochemistry from the University of Yaoundé I, with a research focus on plant biochemistry and bioactive compounds.

Interests / Expertise

Phytobiochemistry
Plant Bioactive
Compounds Biochemical Research and Academic Leadership

Dr. Franck Ghomsi

Instructor | Organizer

Franck is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Manitoba and a Research Officer at the National Institute of Cartography in Cameroon, specializing in ocean dynamics, satellite altimetry, and geophysics. His research addresses sea-level variability, tidal modeling, and the structural analysis of Earth's crust and lithosphere.

Interests / Expertise

Internal Tides and Mesoscale Dynamics
Ocean Modeling and Forecasting
Coastal Monitoring

Mr. Serge Ghomsi Konga

Organizer

Serge is a Data Engineer and Data Scientist at IBM / LGS Canada, specializing in data pipelines, business intelligence, and generative AI across multiple sectors. He also teaches Python programming, helping others unlock the power of data analysis and machine learning.

Interests / Expertise

Data Engineering and BI
Machine Learning and Generative AI
Python for Data Analysis and Programming

Dr. Arielle Stela Nkwinkwa Imbol

Organizer

Arielle is a Physical Oceanographer at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel in Germany. Her work focuses on climate change projections over the Tropical Atlantic and the role of ocean–atmosphere interactions in regional climate. She is particularly interested in how the Agulhas Current influences weather and climate patterns in South Africa.

Interests / Expertise

Tropical Atlantic Climate Variability
Ocean–Atmosphere Interactions
Agulhas Current Dynamics

Prof. Fidèle Koumetio

Organizer

Fidèle is a physicist at the University of Dschang, Cameroon, specializing in geophysics, geoexploration, and environmental physics. His research focuses on subsurface characterization for resource exploration and the modeling of seismic fault dynamics to advance earthquake forecasting.

Interests / Expertise

Geophysical Data Analysis and Modeling
Subsurface Structure Characterization
Seismic Fault Dynamics and Earthquake Forecasting

Dr. Audrey Delpech

Instructor

Audrey is a Physical Oceanographer and Associate Researcher at CNRS in Brest, France, specializing in small-scale ocean dynamics and their role in the climate system. She was a postdoctoral felow at UCLA and NASA/JPL (USA). Her work explores how these features influence extreme events and how they are represented in climate models.

Interests / Expertise

Small-Scale Ocean Dynamics and Remote Sensing
Extreme Events and Climate Variability
Climate Modeling and Predictability