Practical
Monday, 16 November, 2026
- 09:00 until 17:00
VUB aan zee
Graaf De Smet de Naeyerlaan 4
8400 Oostende
Graaf De Smet de Naeyerlaan 4
8400 Oostende
Free
OceanConnectXL Alumni Event
40 years of ocean expertise, one community
The current decade has been declared by the United Nations as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), with ambitious goals for healthy oceans, sustainable ecosystems, and a better understanding of the ocean’s role in the climate system. In this context, collaboration and knowledge sharing are more crucial than ever.
With over 40 years of experience in marine and freshwater education, Flanders has built a strong, international community of researchers and professionals. On 16 November 2026, OceanConnectXL will bring this intergenerational community together at VUB aan Zee in Ostend for a day of meeting, knowledge exchange, and new collaborations.
Programme
☕ 08:30 Registration & welcome coffee
- Arrival and networking
🎤 09:00 Welcome & opening
🌊 Morning - Collaboration
- The Ocean Decade and ECOPs, Juana Jimenez (Flanders Marine Institute)
- Keynote presentation
- Jan-Bart Calewaert, Managing Director at Seascape Belgium, ECOMAMA alumnus
An inspiring perspective on building partnerships and communities of practice, connecting science, policy and society, and creating impact across national, European and international levels.
- Jan-Bart Calewaert, Managing Director at Seascape Belgium, ECOMAMA alumnus
- Interactive sessions
- (Inter)national Research Collaboration & Partnership Development
- Science–policy–society interaction
- Panel: experiences in collaboration and science–policy–society interaction
- ECOP–EsCOP Voices: personal perspectives from ocean professionals at different career stages
🍴 12:00 Lunch & networking
🌊 Afternoon - Development
- Keynote presentation
- Sarah Collin, Ocean Impact Manager at Go Ocean, ECOMAMA alumna
A perspective from the ocean restoration sector on turning ideas into impact: supporting marine restoration projects through partnerships with companies, and building a career at the interface of science, business and the ocean.
- Sarah Collin, Ocean Impact Manager at Go Ocean, ECOMAMA alumna
- Interactive sessions
- Career Development Beyond Academia
- Project Development, Funding Opportunities & Proposal Writing
- Panel: experiences in development
- Video testimonials from ECOPs and EsCOPs
- Future opportunities, closing & next steps
- Sofie de Baenst – OceanExpert Officer & OTGA Secretariat (IOC-UNESCO)
- Karolien Van Puyvelde – Coordinator Oceans & Lakes (VUB)
- Luana Monteiro – IMBRSea Coordinator (Ghent University)
- Tom Van der Stocken – OceanConnectXL promoter (VUB)
🥂 17:00 Reception & networking
Who is it for?
The event is primarily aimed at alumni of marine and freshwater master’s programmes in Flanders (Oceans & Lakes, IMBRSea, TROPIMUNDO and earlier programmes).
Alumni from other master’s programmes with a strong link to marine or freshwater science (such as MSc Biology or Human Ecology) are also welcome.
Depending on the number of participants and venue capacity, priority will be given to alumni from the target programmes.
“OceanConnectXL offers alumni a unique opportunity to strengthen existing connections and build new ones, further develop their careers through international collaboration, and work together on today’s ocean and freshwater challenges.”
Combine your visit with the international conference
The alumni event takes place in the same week as the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026, held in Bruges from 17 to 20 November. This makes it easy to combine both events and make the most of your stay in the region.
About OceanConnectXL
The VUB-initiative OceanConnectXL is an International Cooperation Actions (ICA) project funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO).
The project strengthens international collaboration and knowledge exchange in ocean research and management in Flanders.