11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
[O07-08] Activities and expanding network of ECOP based on the results of online survey
★Invited Papers
Keywords:UN Decade of Ocean Science, Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP), Transdisciplinarity, Networking, IOC-UNESCO
ECOP (Early Career Ocean Professionals) Programme, as one of the endorsed programmes of the UN Ocean Decade, is being advanced globally to empower and expand the network of the early-career generation. To date, more than 6,000 members from 157 countries have participated, and five regional nodes and more than 50 national nodes have been established. There are also five task teams working on specific topics such as ocean literacy or diversity and inclusion, and those are driving a variety of actions with national and regional nodes, through online webinars or publishing newsletters with information on events and funding. Under ECOP Asia, which is one of the regional nodes, nine national nodes have been formed so far. In line with the global initiative, a wide range of initiatives are underway, e.g. online surveys to collect challenges and expectations, information dissemination via social media, and accommodation of symposia and workshops.
ECOP Japan, a national node belonging to ECOP Asia, is a network of Japan-based ECOPs who are active in various ocean-related fields (research, education, government, industry, NPO/NGO, etc.). It aims at introducing activities of ECOPs in Japan which transcend disciplinary boundaries, provide information and opportunities (events, positions, grants, etc.), and discover and expand their network. To pursue these objectives, actions include collecting video letters, holding an ECOP Japan symposium (March 2024), and creating posters to envision the message from ECOPs.
The results of an online survey conducted in 2023 for ECOPs in Japan indicated several challenges: such that outreach to non-academia was limited, that about half of the respondents had heard about the Ocean Decade but had never participated in it, and that many respondents cited a lack of financial support and information as challenges to contributing to the UN Ocean Decade. Many respondents also expressed their expectations for ECOP activities, such as webinars about ocean topics by researchers, experts or NGOs, interactions among ECOPs, and introductions of career opportunities to ocean-related organizations.
Based on those results, ECOP Japan has been prioritizing information sharing and dissemination among ECOPs via online tools since 2024. ECOP Japan Radio, in either podcast or webinar format, was launched in January 2025 to introduce and interact with ECOPs. In addition, ECOP Japan's X and Instagram accounts have been established to share relevant information. With the support of Japan Society of Ocean Policy and Nippon Foundation, an interactive stakeholder map displaying the institutions relating to the UN Ocean Decade is currently being prepared for release with Japan as a pilot case. Through these cases, ECOP Japan aims to promote participation in the UN Ocean Decade from the early career professionals, not limited to academia.
ECOP Japan also moves international collaboration forward. In 2024, presentations have been made at international conferences such as the Barcelona Conference of the UN Ocean Decade, WESTPAC, and UNFCCC COP29. During the series of participations, for instance, WESTPAC ECOP/MCOP (Mid-Career Ocean Professionals) Statement was issued to declare the commitment by those who work in East and Southeast Asia facing the Western Pacific. In future, since the annual meeting of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) in 2025 is scheduled to be held in Yokohama, Japan, participatory activities are being conceptualized in collaboration with the ECOP network of PICES.
The first step toward sustainably developing Japan's ocean sector, which is facing a shortage of early career human resources, and ultimately contributing to the international community, is to create transdisciplinary connections that have never existed before. Under the common field of the ocean, ECOP Japan will keep committing its collaboration, respecting each area of expertise in feasible ways.
ECOP Japan, a national node belonging to ECOP Asia, is a network of Japan-based ECOPs who are active in various ocean-related fields (research, education, government, industry, NPO/NGO, etc.). It aims at introducing activities of ECOPs in Japan which transcend disciplinary boundaries, provide information and opportunities (events, positions, grants, etc.), and discover and expand their network. To pursue these objectives, actions include collecting video letters, holding an ECOP Japan symposium (March 2024), and creating posters to envision the message from ECOPs.
The results of an online survey conducted in 2023 for ECOPs in Japan indicated several challenges: such that outreach to non-academia was limited, that about half of the respondents had heard about the Ocean Decade but had never participated in it, and that many respondents cited a lack of financial support and information as challenges to contributing to the UN Ocean Decade. Many respondents also expressed their expectations for ECOP activities, such as webinars about ocean topics by researchers, experts or NGOs, interactions among ECOPs, and introductions of career opportunities to ocean-related organizations.
Based on those results, ECOP Japan has been prioritizing information sharing and dissemination among ECOPs via online tools since 2024. ECOP Japan Radio, in either podcast or webinar format, was launched in January 2025 to introduce and interact with ECOPs. In addition, ECOP Japan's X and Instagram accounts have been established to share relevant information. With the support of Japan Society of Ocean Policy and Nippon Foundation, an interactive stakeholder map displaying the institutions relating to the UN Ocean Decade is currently being prepared for release with Japan as a pilot case. Through these cases, ECOP Japan aims to promote participation in the UN Ocean Decade from the early career professionals, not limited to academia.
ECOP Japan also moves international collaboration forward. In 2024, presentations have been made at international conferences such as the Barcelona Conference of the UN Ocean Decade, WESTPAC, and UNFCCC COP29. During the series of participations, for instance, WESTPAC ECOP/MCOP (Mid-Career Ocean Professionals) Statement was issued to declare the commitment by those who work in East and Southeast Asia facing the Western Pacific. In future, since the annual meeting of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) in 2025 is scheduled to be held in Yokohama, Japan, participatory activities are being conceptualized in collaboration with the ECOP network of PICES.
The first step toward sustainably developing Japan's ocean sector, which is facing a shortage of early career human resources, and ultimately contributing to the international community, is to create transdisciplinary connections that have never existed before. Under the common field of the ocean, ECOP Japan will keep committing its collaboration, respecting each area of expertise in feasible ways.