The Ocean Foundation’s Ocean Science Equity Initiative: An Example of a Comprehensive, Intentionally Co-Designed Capacity Development Effort.

Abstract

The capacity development session at the Ocean Obs ’19 meeting in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, provided the impetus to establish a framework for a decadal plan and case for support to address key barriers and needs for capacity development in ocean science and ocean observing. In 2020, we prepared a draft plan based on the output of the Ocean Obs session and led a series of regional focus groups via Zoom video conferencing to gain input and feedback, using a list of specific questions designed to identify any areas of improvement over past community practices and paths for new partnerships (Table 1). Across both the Ocean Obs meeting and the virtual sessions, more than 200 researchers and ocean science practitioners provided input.