30th April 2026
By Peace Ahovi
In a significant step toward strengthening ocean science capacity in West Africa, 14 master’s students from the WASCAL Graduate Studies Programme (GSP) at The Atlantic Technical University in Cabo Verde are set to embark on a two-week advanced research expedition aboard the renowned RV Polarstern.
Departing from Mindelo and sailing to Bremerhaven, this two-week voyage will provide students with hands-on experience in deep-sea scientific research. Working alongside a team of international experts, the students will conduct physical, biogeochemical, and biological measurements at depths reaching 4,900 metres, gaining practical insight into ocean processes critical to climate systems.
The expedition will expose participants to cutting-edge oceanographic tools and methodologies, including the operation of rosette water samplers, filtration systems, and the deployment of Argo floats, autonomous instruments that generate long-term data on ocean temperature, salinity, and currents. The students will also contribute to observations at key monitoring sites such as the Cabo Verde Ocean Observatory (CVOO) and the European Station for Time-series in the Ocean (ESTOC), reinforcing global ocean data networks.
This initiative is part of the 4th edition of the Floating University, led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space under the WASCAL programme. It contributes directly to the objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, advancing knowledge and innovation for sustainable ocean management.
Following the voyage, the students will continue their academic engagement in Germany, participating in research activities and a scientific seminar in Kiel, where they will interact with peers from the FYORD programme and broaden their international networks.
This upcoming expedition reflects WASCAL’s sustained commitment to building a new generation of highly skilled African scientists equipped with the practical expertise and global exposure needed to address pressing climate and ocean challenges across the region.
