Gulf of Guinea Ocean
Sciences Summer School
Build ocean science capacity, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance research to understand and address environmental challenges in the Gulf of Guinea
About
The Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS) is an annual summer school dedicated to oceanographic and environmental studies for students and early-career scientists from French-speaking countries of the Gulf of Guinea. The workshop aims to expand opportunities within data-driven ocean science, offering a platform to explore future research directions and foster collaborative networks among attendees.The program will enhance scientific knowledge in oceanography, focusing on a range of critical parameters such as sea level, temperature, salinity, biogeochemistry, and ocean circulation. It will also foster international collaboration in addressing the region's increasing vulnerability to climate change and environmental degradation. The school will bring together leading experts from around the world to offer hands-on training, workshops, and seminars, empowering participants to better understand and address the pressing oceanographic challenges faced by the Gulf of Guinea. ​​
GGOSSS is hosted annually in various French-speaking countries within the Gulf of Guinea, with each year’s location rotating to maximize accessibility, engage local communities, and addresses the unique coastal and marine challenges of each host nation. The inaugural summer school took place at the Faculty of Science of the University of Dschang in Cameroon August 25-29, 2025. It brought together 36 trainees and 12 instructors from six francophone countries of the Gulf of Guinea—Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, and Senegal—for five days of intensive scientific exchange, practical workshops, and field activities. The second edition will be held in Cotonou (Benin) from 3 to 9 October 2026 and hosted with the institutional and technical support of the International Chair in Mathematical Physics and Applications (ICMPA–UNESCO Chair, Université d'Abomey-Calavi), ensuring high-quality training facilities, logistics, and regional engagement. Cotonou is one of the most climate-vulnerable cities in West Africa, facing rapid shoreline retreat, recurrent flooding, lagoon–ocean exchange challenges, and strong anthropogenic pressures. This setting offers an exceptional real-world laboratory for applied coastal and lagoon oceanography.
Background​
The Gulf of Guinea, along Africa's west coast, faces significant challenges from climate change, particularly rising sea levels and changes in key oceanographic parameters such as temperature, salinity, and currents. Its predominantly low-lying coastlines make the region highly vulnerable, yet oceanographic studies remain underdeveloped. Despite initiatives like the Master’s program in Benin and the COESSING summer school in Nigeria and Ghana, French-speaking countries in the region lack sufficient resources and training opportunities in ocean sciences. This gap highlights the urgent need for specialized education and collaboration to address climate change’s impact on the region.
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Marine resources such as fisheries, oil, and gas are central to the Gulf of Guinea's economy but are increasingly threatened by climate change and environmental degradation. Strengthening local expertise in oceanographic research is crucial to safeguarding these resources and addressing broader environmental challenges. An online training initiative has revealed gaps in students’ data analysis skills, underscoring the need for enhanced access to education, mentoring, and technical support, particularly in French-speaking countries. Building capacity in oceanographic sciences is essential for both regional resilience and contributions to global efforts in combating climate change.
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To address these needs, GGOSSS offers hands-on training in oceanographic techniques, mentorship from international experts, and opportunities for collaboration. Participants will gain proficiency in advanced technologies like satellite remote sensing and oceanographic modeling, while also learning to translate scientific knowledge into sustainable practices and policies. By fostering local expertise, strengthening scientific networks, and empowering future leaders, the program aims to drive sustainable development in the Gulf of Guinea and support global ocean conservation efforts.
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They are talking about us:
https://www.univ-dschang.org/gulf-of-guinea-ocean-sciences-summer-school/
Funding
The Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS) is made possible through the generous support and commitment of leading international scientific and capacity-building organizations. We gratefully acknowledge the financial and institutional contributions of Copernicus Marine Service (A Program of The European Union implmented by Mercator Ocean International), Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD).
Their support enables GGOSSS to deliver high-quality training, foster regional and international collaboration, and strengthen ocean science capacity across the Gulf of Guinea. We sincerely thank these partners for their trust, vision, and continued investment in the next generation of ocean scientists and practitioners.