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Marine Science Communication in Europe: a way forward

New Ocean challenges and opportunities fuel the need for enhanced marine and solution-oriented science communication. This Future Science Brief highlights the critical need to strengthen the marine science communication capacity in Europe, as well as develop dedicated training programs, engage in deeper and wider collaboration with stakeholders, and ensure close interaction with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030. 

Marine science communication aims to increase understanding and raise awareness of the importance of Ocean science. It can increase curiosity about scientific discoveries and issues related to our Ocean, while creating awareness and inspiring responsible behaviour at all levels of society. Marine science communication can also help to advocate for policy that is committed to a sustainable Ocean and planet.

Future conflicts between the use of marine resources and marine protection will require solutions that need to be explained by experts and can be understood by non-specialists. New Ocean challenges and opportunities fuel the need for enhanced marine and solution-oriented science communication. This Future Science Brief highlights the critical need to strengthen the marine science communication capacity in Europe, as well as develop dedicated training programs, engage in deeper and wider collaboration with stakeholders, and ensure and close interaction with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.

This document has been developed by the European Marine Board Communications Panel (EMBCP) and is underpinned by surveys among 80 European experts, 1861 students and 23 EMB Member organizations. The Future Science Brief was launched in a dedicated webinar with almost 200 participants.

You can access and download the survey results that underpinned this document on Zenodo (Dataset of EMBCP survey results - Ocean experts DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6684704 & Dataset of EMBCP survey results: 17-18 years old students DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6684742).

You can find the fact sheet for this publication here, see the news item about its launch here, and find out more about the European Marine Board Communications Panel here.