Episode 2 - Educating for Coastal Futures: Training the Scientists and Citizens of Tomorrow

00:00:00: This is not the sound.

00:00:02: someone learning about Costa Resilience would listen.

00:00:06: This, it's kind of some... Someone working on Costa resilience would listen But also this Or these.

00:00:25: Today we want to take you away from home and workplaces And travel together around world.

00:00:32: We will explore why education Is one of most powerful tool that have to build resilient coastal futures and how learning can turn knowledge into action.

00:00:45: You won't just see our theories, you'll hear the voices of those who are living this learning experience first hand.

00:00:52: an expert that helps shape educational strategies And three students whose journeys have been transformed through the DCCCR.

00:01:05: My name is Federica Orsi.

00:01:07: This is Green Tides a podcast by the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience about people, science and ideas that are shaping the future of our coasts.

00:01:31: Imagine arriving at coastal town just after a major storm.

00:01:35: Engineers local leaders volunteers Are ready to rebuild seawalls restore dunes And protect homes from future flooding.

00:01:45: The materials are there!

00:01:47: The tools are ready But without the knowledge and training to understand the coastline, tides or long-term risks no one knows where to begin.

00:01:58: Education is a foundational pillar of coastal resilience but what does it mean in practice?

00:02:04: To answer this question we spoke with Professor Willy Kurafalo scientific director at DCCCR.

00:02:11: In practice.

00:02:12: We cannot truly build resilient coastal environments and resilient coastal cities Without the fundamental, science-based knowledge for everyone involved.

00:02:24: Citizens who form the fabric of coastal communities, managers practitioners and policy makers.

00:02:32: Ocean literacy through dedicated education is not a secondary or supportive activity.

00:02:39: It's core element of resilience itself.

00:02:43: Education goes beyond technical training.

00:02:46: It builds the capacity to observe, interpret and apply climate and ocean knowledge in ways that truly serve society.

00:02:56: Coastal communities that are ocean literate have the power to collectively plan and carry out actions that will be effective in solving the increasing challenges they face.

00:03:08: So education is not only about producing experts but much more

00:03:14: Exactly!

00:03:16: Education should prepare the next generation of experts who will push the envelope in science and technology.

00:03:25: However, In a broader sense through Ocean Literacy initiatives education is key factor for citizen involvement in science-based decision making services solutions that are prepared by well informed stakeholders and environmental protection, climate adaptation risk management and sustainable development.

00:03:54: Thanks to Willis' word we understand also that one of the most powerful aspects of learning is that it doesn't happen in isolation.

00:04:04: At DCCCR education is designed as an experience not only a transfer information but moment of discovery.

00:04:12: And now Let's hear what three students from different parts of the world that were trained by DCCCR.

00:04:19: schools have to tell us.

00:04:21: How has this experience changed their lives and impacted the coastal communities?

00:04:44: Before introducing Isadora, let me tell you what the Co-Growth course is.

00:04:50: It's the first hybrid course organized by DCCCR in collaboration with The Ocean Teacher Global Academy that maintains the eLearning platform of UNESCO IOC for capacity development.

00:05:05: Held in early twenty-five, Co-growth developed an advanced hybrid course on COSA resilience An holistic approach for early careers professionals.

00:05:17: The program combines ten weeks online theoretical and practical sessions with an in-person workshop in Italy, And now it's time to meet Isadora!

00:05:27: My name is Isadora Tsimbao.

00:05:29: I'm Executive Director of Gitec Brazil.

00:05:33: At Gitech, Isadora leads projects on coastal resilience climate adaptation and sustainable development but she also a voluntary member at the Women's League for the Oceans, where women's leadership is promoted from a more inclusive ocean governance.

00:05:50: Her relationship with the Ocean goes beyond works and professional commitments.

00:05:56: It something personal so we asked what Costa Resilience means to her.

00:06:02: Before congrowth Coastal resilience was already a familiar concept to me, both from an academic and professional perspective.

00:06:10: During my studies in oceanography I built strong foundation of ocean systems And through current work at Gitec since the last ten years that have been working on this firm... ...I've increasingly engaged with climate resiliency practice At same time as i mentioned living in coastal city like Rio make this topic very tangible.

00:06:34: My city is a place that benefits deeply from the ocean, but it's also increasingly exposed to its impact.

00:06:40: So I already have these broader and more generic views From different aspects of coastal resilience And what i think the course really did was help me connect these different dimensions.

00:06:52: It brought to me a more systemic perspective of coastal resilience, linking science, practice and people through the cases that we were introduced.

00:07:02: But also from the tools in the case.

00:07:04: studies present was really valuable for me.

00:07:08: And last but not least I think the course also reinforced that coastal resiliency is still an involved field with a lot room to grow and be more effectively integrated into real world decision making.

00:07:21: So yeah, I already had this knowledge in Costa Resilience but i think the course helped me to put everything together.

00:07:27: Connecting the aspects, centering decisions on local communities and people was very interesting.

00:07:35: how it connects with everything.

00:07:36: During our experience Isadora learned something important.

00:07:41: Costa resilience is not an abstract concept But a way of producing technology that can help communities.

00:07:50: I think the first time this concept really became tangible to me was during some of my early field works with a stronger social focus.

00:08:01: I had an opportunity to visit coastal and fishing communities in the coasts of Maranhon, and Bahia And being there listened people talking about them observing their lives understanding how they live especially the intrinsic relationship they had with the ocean and coast, in depth of their knowledge made a lasting impression to me.

00:08:22: So I think it was first time when i really saw the importance and complexity of this aspect, this thematic of coastal resilience.

00:08:33: Co-growth is busy active program but there's one important picture that comes to her mind when she thinks about

00:08:42: Co-Groove, a series of images came into my mind.

00:08:45: It was a lot things that happened during the weeks but I think what really stayed with me from the course and as a mosaic image was the histories from the colleagues.

00:08:56: I remember, for example, participants working with coastal communities in Cuba where Sargasso accumulating on the beach was being reused to produce animal feed and generating extra income for the community.

00:09:09: these exchanges made it very clear how coastal resilience is lived differently across regions but also how much you can learn from each other.

00:09:23: To better understand what they are going tell us We need to know where they started, what questions that were carrying with them and why DCCCR experience mattered.

00:09:33: Let's start with ABWU!

00:09:36: I am ABWu the Deputy Director for Centre for Marine & Coastal Studies at University Science Malaysia.

00:09:42: When AB joined the compass training in the Philippines he wasn't just attending a course.

00:09:48: He was stepping into a region where coastal communities live face-to-face and rapid environmental change.

00:09:58: For him, coastal resilience was not an abstract academic concept.

00:10:03: it was something visible in fishing villages, mangrove forests and local decision-making meetings.

00:10:10: AB is a NICOP, An Early Career Russian Professional.

00:10:14: handy took part in the compass training organized by DCCCR in the Philippines.

00:10:20: but before we talk about Compass let's hear

00:10:24: I'm involved in biodiversity monitoring, especially at coastal areas of Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

00:10:32: My research focuses on looking at the changes of biodiversity... ...in outlooks for climate change as well.

00:10:41: many challenges to the ocean.

00:10:43: The COMPAS course in the Philippines brought together scientists early career professionals….

00:10:49: …and regional experts who work on costal prediction services.

00:10:54: But this training was different from the others AB attended before.

00:10:59: I am very grateful for The Training Program provided by Coach Predict, especially compass in the Philippines.

00:11:05: This training program is very different than any other programs that have been attended because The Training program do not just emphasise on theoretical in classroom.

00:11:16: It brought whole classrooms to decide itself where hands-on experiences are given.

00:11:22: These are very important for young researchers like myself to be able have hands-on experience and do the experiments ourselves.

00:11:31: And also at the end of day, being able learn skills.

00:11:34: that is important in observing coastal areas.

00:11:39: Compass is one of many educational initiatives supported by DCCCR across different regions around the world.

00:11:49: that such programs are organized in places like Southeast Asia.

00:11:53: Training programmes, such as this is very important to be held in places where climate change and changes of the ocean impact most especially local communities.

00:12:06: Bringing training into these local places ensures that the local scientists—especially young scientists—are equipped with essential skills to the community that is having most challenges in coastal resilience.

00:12:25: We are not just looking at short-term solutions, we're also looking at building young researchers so they can see and plan for long term kind of solution to enable coastal resilience from communities which have been impacted by changes in our ocean.

00:12:43: A B remind us that coastal resilience isn't taught in isolation.

00:12:48: It is learned where science meets real-cost risks and communities are already adapting every day.

00:12:55: And now, one last story for today!

00:12:58: We meet Esther.

00:13:00: My name is Esther Kaidieine from the Niger Delta region in Nigeria.

00:13:05: I'm a lecturer at Delta State University of Abrakar Where i focus my research on aquaculture marine environment biology

00:13:16: Esther completed a trainship that reinforced her sense of belonging to her homeland.

00:13:22: So growing up in one Nigerian's major oil producing coastal states, I saw firsthand how pollution affects people's health and livelihoods.

00:13:33: These experiences inspired me try use science make a difference.

00:13:38: My background in marine biology led me apply for this three months training ship At the Decade Collaborative Center for Coastal Resilience in Italy, where I learned to use remote sensing data to monitor water quality and gain a deeper appreciation of how ocean connects communities around the world.

00:14:00: She took part in The Ocean Teacher Global Academy traineeship primary oriented towards coastal systems.

00:14:07: The program aimed at developing transferable metals relevant for coastal monitoring especially in data-limited regions.

00:14:16: Esther's journey into coastal resilience started with a simple question, how can ocean science make a real difference to people lives?

00:14:25: Now the point is did she find the answer?

00:14:29: When I started i wondered how Ocean Science could help people in their daily life.

00:14:35: what i've learned was that it makes big differences When we turn research into tools that communities can actually use.

00:14:45: For example, during the training ship We built a step-by-step method to process satellite images and turn them into maps of water quality.

00:14:54: These maps show where waters are safe for fishing or swimming And where action is needed.

00:15:02: It taught me that science isn't just about papers.

00:15:06: It is about providing information that supports farmers, fishers and policy makers.

00:15:20: During the traineeship there was a specific moment That made her feel she no longer learning but already contributing to something bigger.

00:15:30: Well during my training There were moments where I began to reflect more deeply on how the tools i learned could be applied.

00:15:39: back home I started asking how these techniques could be used to quantify and demonstrate the cost of the ongoing coastal disaster in my country.

00:15:49: An example is a community in the west where ocean water has destroyed more than half of the communities, the coastal erosion forcing other coastal communities to abandon their livelihoods and force them to relocate.

00:16:03: so i realized that if i master this skills I could use them to present evidence-based findings, so the government helping inform early warnings died community relocation and support timely mitigation strategies.

00:16:19: To see how powerful remote sensing data can be in monitoring coastal systems and improving management made me understand that this was not just a training exercise.

00:16:31: it That experience gave me a strong sense of purpose and made me feel part of the global effort to strengthen Costa Resilience.

00:16:43: Asters, Abysses & Disadora stories show that education is not about acquiring knowledge.

00:16:50: it's about building confidence expanding perspectives and finding your place in a global effort To protect coastal environments.

00:17:00: Behind every curse Every training program Every learning experience there is a person, someone who arrived with expectation doubts and hopes.

00:17:11: And left with something different.

00:17:15: Before we say goodbye to this episode and our guests We want understand what remained.

00:17:22: So...we asked each of them the same question How has your life changed after educational experiences you had with DCCR?

00:17:33: Co-growth, for me, strengthened both my technical perspective and also my sense of purpose.

00:17:40: I think professionally it helped me integrate different dimensions of resilience more effectively from ecosystem based approach to finance mechanisms and governance many other subjects.

00:17:54: One the most important change in life after going through The educational program provided by the DCC Climate Resilient is that I'm able to conduct advanced studies, especially in my own locality.

00:18:08: To also be able to contribute to international data.

00:18:12: Besides i am able to meet with experts peers as well as colleagues That are having a same similar research.

00:18:19: By having network of researchers experts from regionally and internationally We're able work together towards finding better solution, a global solution towards having climate resilience in our coastal areas around the world.

00:18:36: I am very glad as well grateful to the DCC Climate Resilience coming out with educational programme that suits and targets researchers like me where climate change is most inspected.

00:18:51: The training has been transformative.

00:18:54: It sparked

00:18:55: a new

00:18:56: research interest for me in remote sensing applications, both marine and freshwater ecosystems.

00:19:03: And I've learned how to use multiple professional software tools within a short time.

00:19:08: so it also connected with mentors and collaborators.

00:19:12: Since returning to Nigeria i have begun integrating these skills what i learnt through my current research work And I'm working to strengthen my department's research capacity, train students in this direction.

00:19:27: In order to support fisheries and pollution monitoring.

00:19:30: So these experiences burdened my horizon and given me the confidence that i can contribute To regional policy discussions through My work and pursue international collaboration All while keeping the means of a local community at the center.

00:19:52: One last question for Professor Curofalo, who has been a pioneer in the study of coastal resilience.

00:19:58: We want to know about today's education – what it can offer and really do?

00:20:05: Education becomes a bridge between science & society.

00:20:09: Yes!

00:20:10: Science in coastal resilience is advancing rapidly... ...and it can only be useful for solutions catered to societies' needs if dynamic dialogue is established between Those who create knowledge and those that face specific challenges, require suitable solutions.

00:20:31: Education offers a common language which supports such dialogue.

00:20:36: Scientists can then understand the challenges under resiliency threats society can trust embrace implement proposed solution.

00:20:49: I should also point out that ocean science is quite Young.

00:20:53: I grew up in Greece, a country with thousands of years of naval history A country surrounded by ocean waters and over two hundred inhabited islands.

00:21:06: It was only thirty-years ago that the dedicated Department of Marine Sciences Was established at The Greek University.

00:21:14: As student

00:21:15: at the university of Athens i never had a course related to Oceanography.

00:21:20: There was simply no such option at the time.

00:21:24: But there is now!

00:21:25: Fortunately, such gaps have started to diminish all around the world.

00:21:31: but there's still a long way to go and education IS indeed THE KEY TO BRIDGE OCEAN SCIENCE AND SOCIETY.

00:21:42: Education is cultural resilience.

00:21:45: It shapes how future generations will understand value & protect the cost.

00:21:51: It is the foundation of any lasting change.

00:21:56: If this episode caught your curiosity, there's a simple step to do!

00:22:00: Visit The Ocean Teacher Global Academy website and explore the course available.

00:22:06: if you are looking for learning opportunities in ocean literacy, coastal resilience & marine conservation look for DCCCR on the platform.

00:22:15: You don't need a specialist background just curiosity.

00:22:20: Go to the link in description and discover where learning can take you.

00:22:27: Follow our podcast on your favorite app, click on the bell and get a notification every time new episode is out!

00:22:36: Until next time, protect & respect our coastal ocean!

00:22:57: Federica Orsi, Writing Lorenzo Molino, Sound Design Antonio Mezzadra, Graphics Laura Fracasso, Producer Esther Memeo.

00:23:08: Special thanks to CMCC, Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, Herion and Deltares.