Become a COES-WIO 2026 Instructor: Coastal Ocean Environment School – Western Indian Ocean20–26 September 2026 | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Background: The Coastal Ocean Environment School in the Western Indian Ocean (COES-WIO) is entering its second year and will be hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, following a successful inaugural year in Mombasa, Kenya. COES-WIO is modeled after the Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Nigeria and Ghana (COESSING; https://coessing.org/), which has been building oceanographic capacity across West Africa since 2015. Over the past decade, COESSING has developed a strong and sustainable program structure that combines a week of online foundational learning with an immersive, hands-on, in-person session. This format allows participants to build theoretical grounding before applying practical skills through fieldwork, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, collaborative research projects, and final presentations. Through this structured and regionally responsive approach, both COESSING and COES-WIO strengthen scientific capacity, increase research outputs, expand regional and international research networks, and foster meaningful participation in the global oceanography community.
COES-WIO 2026: As COES-WIO enters its second year, we are inviting expressions of interest from experts and organizations eager to facilitate project track sessions. These sessions are designed to provide experiential learning opportunities that bridge theory and application. The expression of interest form will also assist organizers in planning essential locations, tools, and resources needed to ensure a successful hands-on experience during the in-person school, scheduled for September 20 – September 26. Together, these partnerships reflect a shared commitment to strengthening ocean science capacity, advancing regional collaboration, and cultivating the next generation of ocean researchers across the Western Indian Ocean region. University of Michigan, University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM) , Tanzania Fisheries & Research Institute (TAFIRI), Marine Parks & Reserve-Tanzania (MPRU), The University of Dodoma (UDOM), Sustainable Ocean Alliance Hub Tanzania (SOA Tanzania), IOC Africa, Ocean Teachers Global Academy (OTGA), Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP), and Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) are all involved in creating the COES-WIO experience in 2026.
The purpose of this application is to understand the type of research contribution you will make to the present five project tracks by providing a research project that aligns with the COES-WIO model. In this application, you will propose an immersive learning approach for our participants to receive hands-on and practical experience within the WIO Region. Your proposal will be reviewed by the project leaders of each project track to determine the alignment and enhancement of the COES-WIO project track model. These projects should appeal to an audience of up to 15-20 participants (per group) from diverse academic and career backgrounds. Participants may include academics (research scientists, students), end users (sectoral stakeholders), and local/regional decision and policy makers.
Apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fx2UEyoK_RakhKs6VgMQYl10SevSzw3VGhH93nDAduU/edit?ts=69b2c1fa
For Questions: coessing@gmail.com
Application Closes on Friday, April 5th 2026.
