From November 26-27, the vibrant city of Málaga hosted CommOCEAN 2024, bringing together 135 participants passionate about marine science communication. Organized by the European Marine Board Communication Panel, the conference was a platform for exchanging ideas, exploring innovative strategies, and fostering collaborations.
The event began aboard the RV Odón de Buen, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography’s state-of-the-art newest research vessel. This unique icebreaker event set the tone for two days of dynamic discussions and networking.
One of the highlights of the conference was the workshop hosted by VLIZ (Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee) on citizen science. The session provided practical tips for engaging communities in coastal and marine citizen science projects, drawing on insights from the PREP4BLUE report.
Other highlights included Joanne Sweeney’s keynote on enhancing social media communication and the forward-looking talks by Nikola Balic and Dávid Kulcsár, which explored AI's potential in science communication.
As the conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing innovation and creativity, it was evident that CommOCEAN 2024 had successfully advanced the dialogue on effective marine science communication.
Looking ahead, we can’t wait for the next edition at the University of Bergen in September 2026!
