Photo: VLIZ | Karen Rappé
Two promising young marine scientists from Chile and Ecuador were offered a travel grant through the VLIZ philanthropy. With this grant, they participated in the international Blue Science and Technology summer training, in Ostend, Ghent and Zeeland. A nice great stepping stone for their further professional careers!
Annually, VLIZ charity The Sea as a Good Cause awards travel grants to early career professionals from the Global South. This year, additional support came from the secretariat of the National Committee for the Ocean Decade for Belgium and Flanders. So, even two young promising marine scientists were given the opportunity to participate in the international Blue Science and Technology summer training.
The honour fell to Javiera Marta San Martin Parra (Instituto de Fomento Pesquero, Chile) and Flor Carolina Sumba Sumba (Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, Ecuador). The flight, their accommodation and the registration fee were funded.
UGain, the academy for engineers of the University Ghent, organises this series of classes in Ghent, Ostend and Zeeland. From 3 to 14 July, the participants of this summer course received a wide range of multidisciplinary lectures, workshops and unique site visits. Two weeks they were immersed in topics such as sustainability, aquaculture, coastal protection, blue biotechnology, marine spatial planning, social and innovative entrepreneurship, etc.
This participation gives a boost to the professional career of Flor and Javiera as marine scientists. Moreover, it promotes contacts between the research groups in Flanders and those in the South. Because the ocean knows no borders!
