10th June 2026
By Peace Ahovi
The WASCAL Floating University, a mobile, sea-based training and research initiative conducted aboard the research vessel “FS POLARSTERN”, is transforming climate science education by providing young West African scientists with hands-on research experience, reinforcing WASCAL’s commitment to building regional capacity and advancing climate expertise across West Africa.
As part of the WASCAL Master’s Programme in Climate Change and Marine Sciences, students from WASCAL’s 12 member countries embarked on an intensive two-week scientific expedition aboard Germany’s renowned research vessel, FS POLARSTERN, travelling from Mindelo, Cabo Verde, to Bremerhaven in Germany.
The expedition forms a key component of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) funded Master’s programme hosted at the Atlantic Technical University (UTA) in Cabo Verde, where students combine academic learning with practical field research to better understand climate change and its impact on marine ecosystems.
During the voyage, students worked alongside leading international scientists and gained practical experience using advanced scientific equipment to investigate interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean. Activities included collecting water samples from depths of up to 4,900 metres, analysing marine biodiversity, monitoring carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations in the atmosphere and ocean, and studying ocean acidification processes linked to climate change.
Students also deployed modern technologies such as the Planktoscope, UnderwaterVisionProfiler (UVP), and stereo microscopes to identify marine organisms and better understand the changing health of ocean ecosystems.
For many students, the Floating University offered a unique opportunity to directly connect scientific theory with practical application. The knowledge gained will contribute significantly to their Master’s research on climate-related challenges affecting West Africa, including marine heatwaves, biodiversity loss, fisheries decline, and ecosystem degradation.
A major highlight of the expedition was the visit by the German Federal Minister for Research, Dorothee Bär, who engaged with WASCAL students aboard the vessel and emphasised the strategic importance of climate research, international collaboration, and practical scientific training for future climate leaders.
The expedition was led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel in collaboration with leading international research institutions, including the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel(CAU) and Senegal’s Centre de Recherche Océanographique de Dakar Thiaroye (CRODT-ISRA).
Funded by BMFTR, the WASCAL Graduate School Programme continues to build local expertise to address climate challenges across West Africa. Since its inception, WASCAL has trained over 650 climate professionals, strengthening regional climate resilience and scientific excellence.
Through initiatives such as the WASCAL Floating University, WASCAL remains committed to preparing the next generation of African climate scientists with the practical knowledge, international exposure, and research expertise needed to drive sustainable climate solutions for the region.
