General information
The Around Africa Expedition was a collaborative OceanQuest – OceanX 70-day mission aboard the advanced research and media vessel OceanXplorer. It was a major ocean research and capacity-sharing mission advancing deep-sea research oceanographic mapping, and scientific collaboration around Africa, from the Comoros to Gran Canaria. The expedition was comprised of five science-, training- and education-dedicated legs. POGO collaborated with OceanQuest and OceanX by overseeing the organisation of shipboard training for Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) in 4 legs of the expedition.
The leg between Moroni (Comoros) and Cape Town (South Africa) took place from 30 January to 23 February 2025, under the supervision of Dr Lara Atkinson (South African Environmental Observation Network, SAEON) and her team. The activities onboard included geological survey, biodiversity assessment, environmental DNA (eDNA) and associated oceanography.
Priority areas
The activities onboard included geological survey, biodiversity assessment, environmental DNA (eDNA) and associated oceanography.
What is offered
applications are closed
Application
Who can apply
Applications are closed.
Trainees were selected from the 2024 NF-POGO Open Call for Shipboard Fellowship
How to apply
Trainees were selected from the 2024 NF-POGO Open Call for Shipboard Fellowship
Review process
The POGO Secretariat collaborated with the chief scientist of this leg, Dr Lara Atkinson from the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), to assess the applications shortlisted from the 2024 NF-POGO Open Call for Shipboard Fellowship.
Evaluation criteria included the quality of the application, the applicant’s CV, potential contribution to sustained capacity building in the candidate’s home country or institution, the strength of the recommendation letter, and overall relevance and eligibility.
Terms
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Airfare from trainee’s home country to Moroni (Comoros) and from Cape Town (South Africa) back to home country.
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Subsistence allowance and accommodation before joining and/or after leaving the ship.
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Meals and berth during the expedition.
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Expenses incurred within the trainee home country or during transit (e.g., domestic travel, airport meals, visa costs, mandatory travel and personal insurance, vaccines).
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Salary.
