Program
19 to 22 August
Main objective: To understand the concept of ocean literacy and integrate the international and diverse network of participants.
Content:
- Introduction to the origin, evolution and meaning of Oceanic literacy and the current panorama of research in the field.
- Relationship with climate change, global agendas and the UN Ocean Decade.
- White Paper 10 – Vision 2030 and its 4 strategic drivers.
- Sharing personal experiences and identifying common interests.
- Integration between participants from different countries and profiles.
9am - 12:30am — Participants arrival and Reception & Group dynamics for interaction
12:30pm - 2pm — Lunch in Bertioga
2pm - 3:30pm — Check in SESC
4pm - 6:30pm — Opening Session - (UNIFESP, FAPESP, SESC)
Presentation of SPSAS-OL
Dynamics of interaction
7pm — Dinner at SESC and optional Cultural Activities
9am - 10am — Understanding and discussing the concept of Ocean Literacy
- Diz Glithero
10:30am - 12am — Roundtable - Key drivers of Ocean Literacy: The relationship between Ocean Literacy and Ocean Science: frontiers of knowledge
Mediator:
- Ronaldo Christofoletti
Panelists:
- Anthony Leiserowitz;
- Cristiana Seixas;
- Raquel Costa;
- Tatiana Villegas;
- Deborah Prado;
- Jacqueline Uku.
12am - 1:30pm — Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm — Tidal Talks: 3 minutes that move minds
Session: A Tsunami of Ideas
A dynamic showcase where diverse perspectives collide, merge, and amplify like powerful waves, offering a global view of ocean literacy and its transformative potential.
Othman Cherkaoui Dekkaki – What brings Math to the Ocean
Ana Vitória Tereza de Magalhães – The power of nets
Wendy Elizabeth Chávez Páez – Stewards of the Coast: A story of resistance from Ecuador
Jose Marie Amo Eslopor – OCEAN Collab: Ocean (Literacy) Communication Enabling (Climate) Action Network and Collaborations
Md Ruyel Miah – Making Governance Right for Fisheries and Ocean Sustainability
Özlem Aksoy – Re-evaluating the Marine Environment Policies under the scope of Climate Change Scenarios
Sofía Bausero-Jorcin – Governance transformation in Uruguay’s SSF: towards a participatory system
Rafael Hurtado – Marine Ecosystem Services and Social Violence
Manuela Elisa Manuel Amone Mabuto – The Ocean’s Green Shield Against Climate Change
Kimberley Evadney Westby – Threats of Climate and Environmental Change on Ecosystem Services provided by Mangroves in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil
Natália Cristina Fidelis Bahia – Community-based tourism in Brazilian coastal protected areas
Carolina Targon Tibério – Ecogenomics and evolutionary insights of subsurface archaea from Brazilian deep sea
Salote Michaela Covilati – Pacific Geospatial Women Network
Tainá Luchese Gaspar – Rolling living stones: why rhodolith beds matter
Maríaelena Carbajal – Marine Social Science: Maritime Identity and Urban Change in Barcelona
Barbara Ramos Pinheiro – Marmaid scientist and JEDI
2:30pm - 4pm — Break-out groups - Mentoring
4pm - 5pm — Tidal Talks: 3 minutes that move minds
Session: Tides of Resilience
This session explores how ocean literacy inspires adaptation and creativity in the face of climate change, highlighting stories of resistance, hope, and transformation.
Vera Noon – Ocean Literacy, heritage, and loss: shaping pathways for change
Aminata Sidibe – Ocean’s memory and climate migration
Carolina Gonçalves de Lima – Protecting Coral Reefs: Understanding PAHs in a Changing Ocean
Sueley Firmino Cavalcante – Cultural Currents for Planetary Solutions
Abigail Sisti – Laboratory-classroom translation: the American lobster
Annemie Rose Janssen – Sea Kelp or Seek Help? A pathway to creating resilient underwater forests with benefits for society and the sea.
Kianna Bear-Hetherington – More Than Conservation: The Brothers Islands WPCA
Lionel Nakuno Balemba – Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Ocean Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sabrina Santana Palma – From Beaches to Estuaries: Building Ocean Literacy
Jorge Francisco Rodriguez Castel Blanco – Ocean Smart, Climate Ready
Joel Francolino da Silva Júnior – The contribution of tropical seagrass in blue carbon stocks
Laili Fitria – Predict Early, Restore Wisely
Luiz Gustavo de Sales Jannuzzi – Microalgae bioremediation: Science and communities restoring coral reef ecosystems.
Michelle Amario – Are coral restoration sites doomed? Thermal stress episodes, turbidity, and depth as criteria for the assessment of the suitability of current coral restoration sites
Jessica Leigh Thornton – From Ancestors to Future Stewards: Reimagining Ocean Literacy
5pm - 6:30pm — Break-out groups – Feedbacks and Networking
7pm — Dinner at SESC and optional Cultural Activities
9am - 10am — Tidal Talks: 3 minutes that move minds
Session: A Wave of Knowledge
Dive into the power of education as a driver of ocean literacy, where learning flows across communities, schools, and generations like an ever-growing wave.
Letícia Mourad Lobo Leite – Ocean Literacy for Schools
Beatriz Almonacil Fernández – Ocean literacy for coastal communities
Caio Ribeiro Soares Oliveira – Ocean literacy from an educator’s perspective
Luiza Ferreira Soares – Advancing Ocean Literacy Through Science and Stakeholder Engagement
Emanuele Golino – Pedagogy of the Sea: Shaping an Ocean Curriculum
Elisa Van Sluys Menck – Bridging Science, Policy, and People for a Cleaner Ocean
Anna Cecília de Alencar Reis – Science, Art and Ocean Literacy
Emenyonu Martin Uchenna – We all Came from the Water: Advancing Ocean Literacy for a Sustainable Blue Future
Tatiane Caetano – Ocean Literacy in Teacher Education: Challenges and Motivations
Barbara Čolić – Island Voices: Local Knowledge for Lasting Marine Protection
Caroline Schio – Monitoramento Mirim Costeiro – Junior Coastal Monitoring Program
Alexya Cunha de Queiroz – Hide and seek in the mangrove?
Kelly Yumi Inagaki – Unravelling the interactions between corals and algae
Viviane Cristina da Costa Santos – The smallest shrimp with a big role: Understanding Acetes in the Amazon
Glendon Glasgow – Bridging the Gap: Making the Ocean’s Story Our Story
10am - 11am — Vision 2030 - Driver Communication
Anthony Leiserowitz
To discuss the role of strategic communication as a key tool for shifting perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. The discussion will highlight the urgent need to strengthen the capacity of ocean science communicators globally, ensuring the inclusion of narratives from multiple knowledge systems and engagement with diverse audiences. A central focus will be on training professionals equipped with the tools, skills, and knowledge to effectively communicate the values and services of the ocean for human well-being and to foster or restore emotional connections with the ocean.
11am - 12am — Tidal Talks: 3 minutes that move minds
Session: Blue Classrooms, Green Futures
A journey into how ocean-based education connects with environment and climate resilience, shaping young minds to imagine and build sustainable futures.
Camila Keiko Takahashi – Blue Curriculum, Bright Future
Dametoti Yamoula – Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions in Northwest African and Gulf of Guinea Coastal Upwelling Systems
Marika Makharadze – From Science to Society: Building Ocean Literacy in Georgia and the Black Sea
Victoria Marena do Rego Henriques – Invisible Footprints: Detecting Aquatic Invaders with eDNA
Gustavo de Lima Silva – An ocean in the curriculum
Evandro Lima Cordeiro Júnior – Mapping of competencies for the blue generation from the perspective of ocean literacy
Romilda Roncatti – Building Ocean Literacy through partnership
Consuelo Quevedo – How Salty Are You? Exploring Australian Society’s Connection to the Ocean
Stephanie Nzeke Waniko – Waves of change: Nigeria’s journey in cultivating ocean leaders through Blue Schools global network
Sofía Bermeo García – I just wanted to be a mermaid
Hugo Alexandre Pedro de Jesus – Mini 30×30 Challenge | A students’ wave for the ocean
Li Sicong – Relational values in forest, river and ocean‘s nexus
Elisa Santos Soares – Feira Feliz: A social technology in food security and waste management
Alfredo José Salazar Beingolea – Our inseparable ocean connection
Aline Shimada da Cruz – Unraveling the Resistance and Resilience of Southwestern Atlantic Coral Reefs: An Analysis of Responses to Climate Change via Functional Aspects of Autotrophy and Heterotrophy
12am - 1:30pm — Lunch
1:30pm - 2:40pm — Vision 2030 - Driver Education
Raquel Costa and Diana Payne
To examine education as a driver of social change, emphasizing the need for ecological learning that is place‑based, relational, and experiential. The discussion will prioritize urgent pedagogical approaches in education for sustainability, climate education, and global citizenship. It will also consider the role of public policy in advancing ocean literacy and ocean citizenship across formal, informal, and non‑formal education systems, highlighting strategies to integrate local knowledge, engage communities, and equip educators to catalyze just and sustainable ocean futures.
2:40pm - 3:50pm — Vision 2030 - Driver Cultural Connections
Tatiana Villegas
To explore the cultural dimensions of human–ocean relationships, focusing on the knowledge, practices, and connections that people hold with the sea. The discussion will recognize the importance of intangible cultural heritage and the deep oceanic identities of many communities, including Indigenous coastal peoples and seafarers who navigate and interpret ever-changing ocean and climate conditions. Emphasis will be placed on ancestral knowledge and the intergenerational experience of small-scale fisheries as powerful examples of how individuals see themselves as part of ocean ecosystems and understand the balance needed for a sustainable future.
4pm - 5pm — Cultural Activity – “Choramingando”
5:10pm - 6:30pm — Break-out groups – Mentoring
7pm — Dinner at SESC and optional Cultural Activities
9am - 10:30am — Vision 2030 - Driver knowledge Systems
Cristiana Seixas and Pedro Jacobi
The session will explore the pathways for mobilizing diverse knowledge systems and advancing collaborative, transdisciplinary scientific practices, particularly by recognizing and valuing Indigenous and traditional knowledge. The panel will also address strategies to promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in ocean science by removing barriers to participation and challenging existing power asymmetries. Knowledge co-production across all stages of the scientific process will be discussed as a strategic outcome essential for driving ocean-positive behavior change.
10:30am - 11:30am — TBD
11:30am - 12pm — SESC presentation and Informations on Module 2
12pm - 2pm — Lunch and check out
2pm - 4pm — Practical activity and field visit – engagement actions with society – SESC Bertioga Reserve
4pm - Return to Santos - Individual Dinner
23 to 26 August
Main objective: To experience ocean literacy in the field and understand its multiple practical and intersectoral applications.
Content:
- Field trips to learn about ocean literacy.
- Meetings with representatives from different social, professional sectors and systems of knowledge
- Identification of tools and methods for ocean literacy actions.
- Discussion on climate justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Encouragement of collaborative action, creativity Field visit – Port and coastal urban landscape and problem-solving.
9am (departure from hotel)
10am - 12pm — Field visit – boat trip
Port and coastal urban landscape in Santos. During this fieldwork, all participants will have the opportunity to visit Santos estuary by boat — home to the largest port complex in Latin America — and reflect on how ocean literacy can contribute to navigating complex scenarios
12pm - 2pm — Group Lunch
2pm - 4pm — SESC Santos — Round-table: The Ocean in Us: Understanding Perceptions, Inspiring Change
How do we relate to the ocean — emotionally, culturally, politically, and in our daily lives? This roundtable explores the complex relationship between people and the ocean, bringing together evidence from research and lived experiences to support strategies for future action.
Based on global and national studies, the session will present findings from the Ocean & Society Survey, an unprecedented study on perceptions at both global and regional scales, and from the Brazilian initiative Oceano sem Mistérios (Ocean without Mysteries), which has been mapping how people understand and connect with the ocean. The session will also mark the launch of new regional data from coastal areas where BIOMAR Network projects are active, offering concrete insights into the challenges and opportunities for community-level engagement with the ocean.
More than presenting data, the discussion will reflect on how these learnings can guide us toward the transformations we need — not only in how we perceive the ocean, but also in how we act, govern, educate, and coexist with it. The ocean is in us — and our future depends on restoring and deepening this connection.
SPSAS-OL Speakers:
- Ronaldo Christofoletti
- Anthony A. Leiserowitz
- Diz Glithero
- Diana Payne
External speakers:
- Tatiana Neves (Instituto Albatroz);
- Leticia Mourad (Coral Vivo);
- Amanda Borges (Petrobras Socioambiental)
4pm - 6pm — SESC Santos — Round Table: Tides of Justice: Ocean Culture in a Changing Climate
The climate crisis is not only an environmental or scientific issue — it is also a cultural one. This session explores how ocean culture connects to climate justice and why placing cultural perspectives at the center is essential for inclusive and lasting climate solutions.
Panelists will discuss how different communities experience the impacts of climate change according to their cultural, historical, and geographical contexts — and how these differences must be recognized when shaping education strategies, public policies, and adaptation measures. The session will highlight concrete initiatives that bring ocean culture into public dialogue and action, ensuring that the voices, identities, and knowledge of coastal populations are not only respected but actively shape our collective response to the climate emergency.
By bringing together researchers, educators, and activists, this roundtable raises key questions: How can ocean culture become a driver of climate justice? What tools and approaches are needed to ensure that climate actions are not only technically effective but also socially just and culturally meaningful?
SPSAS-OL Speakers:
- Tatiana Villegas
- Jacqueline Uku
- Renzo Taddei.
External Speaker:
- Amanda Rossini Martins – Lawyer, climate activist, and researcher on more-than-human rights. Member of Latinas por el Clima collective and the NGO EmpoderaClima. Specialist in Environmental Law and Digital Law at Fundação Escola Superior do Ministério Público (FMP), Master’s graduate of the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratization (EMA), and currently a PhD candidate at Ghent University, Belgium. Her research focuses on how ecological destruction — both historical and ongoing — intersects with extractivism, just transition, grassroots resistance, and colonial legacies in Latin America.
6pm — Individual Dinner
9:30am — departure from hotel
10:30am - 12:30pm — SESC Santos — Round-table: Connecting Worlds: Traditional Knowledge and Science for a Transforming Planet
This session will bring together Indigenous and traditional knowledge holders to reflect on the role of their wisdom in a context of intense global environmental change. Participants will explore the connections, tensions, and complementarities between traditional knowledge systems and scientific approaches, highlighting the importance of knowledge diversity in building fairer and more sustainable futures. The discussion will also address how science and traditional knowledge can complement one another, as well as the fundamental role of universities in fostering this dialogue and valuing knowledge as a driver for socio-environmental transformation.
SPSAS Speakers:
- Deborah Prado (moderator)
External Speakers:
- Maíra Silva: Quilombola, researcher
- Angélica Sousa: Caiçara. President of the Castelhanos Residents’ association and representative of the Caiçara social movement of São Sebastião, Caraguatatuba and Ilhabela.
- Vinicius Terra: Professor at the Federal University of São Paulo. Vice Coordinator of the UNIFESP Indigenous Intercultural Degree.
Confirmed guest – Sesc:
- Awa Tenondeguá – General Coordinator of Arpin Sudeste (Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the Southeast Region), one of the seven regional organizations linked to APIB – the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil. He is the chief of the Tapirema village in the Piaçaguera Indigenous Land, in Peruíbe.
12:30pm - 3pm — Group Lunch
3pm - 5pm — SESC Santos — Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Ocean-Climate Interface - Intersectional Perspectives
What does justice look like when viewed through the lens of the ocean and the climate? This session explores how Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) must be fundamental to ocean culture and the climate emergency, especially when addressing issues of gender, racial equity, LGBTQIAPN+ rights, and the inclusion of deaf and disabled people. It is well known that underrepresented communities are among the most affected by climate change and, in contrast, are often excluded from political discussions and decision-making on the issue. Likewise, ocean-related spaces — whether in science, education, or governance — too often reproduce structural inequalities.
This panel brings together activists, educators, and researchers to share strategies for transforming ocean culture and climate action into a truly inclusive and empowering space. We will explore how to break silences, amplify historically excluded voices, and build systems that ensure accessibility in language, participation, and power.
SPSAS Speaker:
- Bárbara Pinheiro (moderator)
External Speakers:
- Ellen de Lima Souza – Professor at UNIFESP, cultural coordinator, and leader of the LAROYÊ Research Group – Childhood Cultures and Decolonizing Pedagogies.
- Erik Honorato – Master’s student researching communication for the deaf community.
- Tatiana Mazzo – Professor at UNIFESP, coordinator of the STEMAR Club Project for girls and women, representative of the LGBTQIAP+ community.
Confirmed guest – Sesc:
- Mariana Belmont – Journalist born in Parelheiros (southern São Paulo). Works with communication and advocacy for public policies. She has held government positions in environmental and housing issues in São Paulo’s City Hall. Formerly communication and engagement coordinator at the Bocaina Mosaic of Protected Areas (ICMBio). Served as Program Superintendent and Director of Climate and City at the Instituto de Referência Negra Peregum. Columnist for UOL and currently writes monthly for the Gênero e Número portal. Activist engaged in environmental and grassroots movements. Recently guest editor of the journal Diálogos Socioambientais: Racismo Ambiental at the Federal University of ABC. Organizer of the book Racismo Ambiental e Emergências Climáticas no Brasil (Oralituras, 2023). Currently Climate and Environmental Racism Advisor at Geledés – Black Women’s Institute.
6pm — Individual Dinner
9am - 4:30pm — Field Trips (small-groups) – options to be decided by August 22th
4:30pm - 5:30pm — International concepts of Blue Economy and Bioeconomy – Wagner Valenti
5:30pm - 6:30pm — Tidal Talks: 3 minutes that move minds
Session: Business as Blue-sual
A fresh look at the blue economy, where innovation and sustainability ride the same wave, turning ocean-friendly practices into everyday business.
Vanessa de Souza Marinho – The Blue Economy Has a Taste: Flavors, Forests, and Futures from the Amazon
Laura Detore Develey – Co-construction of a Payment for Environmental Services Mechanism in Artisanal Fishing: What are the key elements for a fair and sustainable public policy?
Miguel Paranaguá – Turning Ocean-Bound Plastic into Value Through Recycling
Marver B. Woodley – Blue Economy, Ocean Governance and SIDs: the Antigua and Barbuda perspective
Grabiel David Fuentes Leon – Determination of blue carbon stocks in seagrass meadows in Cayo Santa María, Cuba.
Ester Nangolo – Ocean Literacy towards a Sustainable Blue Economy in Namibia
Fernanda Ramos Fernandes de Oliveira – Assessing the Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas: Ecological and Social Perspectives
Karina Fermi Orsolini – Multiple Territorial Uses in the Santos Estuary: Tackling Social Justice and Blue Economy
Maria Laura Fontelles Ternes – Marine conservation and socioecological research
Edwin Mwashinga – Ocean of Opportunity
7pm — Group Dinner
9am - 4pm — Field Trips (small-groups) – options to be decided by August 22th
4pm - 5:30 pm — Mentoring groups
6pm — Individual dinner
27 to 29 August
Main objective: To experience dialogues between science and public and private policies based on ocean literacy, with a focus on discussions for COP30.
Content:
- Forum dialogues with decision-makers and institutional leaders.
- Strengthening strategic communication and public argumentation.
- Reflection on local and global articulations.
- Discuss the alignment of ocean literacy to climate resilience and its relationship with COP30.
9am - 10am — Tidal Talks: 3 minutes that move minds
Session: The Ocean Speaks
This session dives into the art of communication, showing how stories, science, and voices can give the ocean a language of its own — one that informs, inspires, and mobilizes society for change.
Ojo Taiye – Abecedarium: ocean literacy in our native tongues – a community-driven approach
Russell Arnott – Using value systems to reach outside of echo chambers
Anja Milena Wegner – Liminal spaces: Working between Art and Science
Aline Sbizera Martinez – Human impacts and NbS for coastal cities
Jessyca Luana Silva Teixeira – Mar de Sentidos – diving with your feet on the ground.
André Pardal – Antarctica is closer than you think — Polar Science, Climate Change & the Ocean
Wagner Lucena de Andrade Souza – Seagrass: An important ecosystem for gleaning?
Julia de Paula Vilaça Santos – Working roles of fish
Vanessa Brasil de Carvalho – A science communication researcher from the Amazon
Gabriella Akpah Yeboah – Women in Oyster science and Oyster genetics for restoration and cultivation of species.
Gonzalo Bravo – Serious About Surf, Playful with Science
Isadora Cord – Telling Fish Stories: Evolution, Islands, and Connection
Ana Carolina Grillo Monteiro – Coral Restoration
Emily Lorra Hines – Working for Water in Canada
Lucas Silva Pires – Architects of the Mangrove
10:30am - 12pm — Bourbon Hotel — Seminar: Ocean in Motion: Dialogues for a Sustainable and Inclusive Blue Economy
The blue economy is gaining global momentum — but for it to be truly transformative, it must be rooted in Ocean Literacy, climate justice, and the principles of social inclusion and environmental responsibility. This session brings together diverse voices to explore how ocean-based economic development can serve both people and planet. From community fisheries and coastal livelihoods to innovation, education and policy, speakers will highlight experiences that prioritize local knowledge, equity and environmental stewardship.
Crucially, the dialogue also reflects on how these approaches align with national and international public policies, including Brazil’s commitments to sustainable development, its leadership in the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and its advancing blue economy agenda. The session will emphasize the need for coordinated regional and national strategies that ensure the blue economy does not reinforce existing inequalities, but instead becomes a vehicle for inclusive progress and resilience. By bridging practice, policy and participation, this panel invites a powerful question: What does it take to ensure the blue economy leaves no one behind — from shoreline communities to decision-making arenas?
Speakers:
- Leandro Viegas (Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Brazil)
- Jacqueline Uku
- Thauan Santos
- other participants TBC
12pm - 2pm — Group Lunch at Bourbon
2pm - 3:30pm — From Screen to Sea: Stories That Make Us Care
What role does communication play in ocean conservation? How can stories, images and media foster a deep emotional bond with the ocean — one that inspires people to care, and act?
This session dives into the power of strategic communication to shift perceptions and behaviors through emotionally resonant storytelling. With examples from television series, social media engagement, and the striking visual narratives of EUceano, created by photographer Rodrigo Thomé, panelists will explore how artistic and media-driven approaches can bring the ocean closer to people’s daily lives.
From national campaigns to personal portraits, these communication strategies help build not just awareness, but belonging — making the ocean part of our identity, imagination and responsibility. The session invites reflection on how creative, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent communication can be a powerful ally for ocean literacy and cultural change.
Speaker:
- Rodrigo Thomé
4pm - 5:30pm — Bourbon Hotel — Breaking Waves, Breaking Barriers: Women Advancing Earth, Ocean and Polar Science
Gender equity at the forefront of scientific progress from land to sea to ice
From ocean expeditions to polar research stations and forest monitoring networks, women are leading transformative scientific efforts across the planet. Yet, systemic barriers — from lack of visibility to unequal access to resources and decision-making spaces — still shape who participates in science and how.
This session highlights the stories, challenges and contributions of women scientists working across marine, polar and terrestrial biomes, with a special focus on gender equity as a driver of excellence and innovation. The panel will explore the intersection of science, policy and social justice, and how inclusive scientific communities can strengthen the quality, relevance and impact of knowledge production.
By spotlighting initiatives, experiences and data from Brazil and around the world, the session invites participants to reflect on how we can break persistent barriers and build scientific ecosystems where gender equity is not a goal — but a norm.
6pm — Individual dinner
9am - 9:55am — Interactive Dialogue among participants
10am - 12pm — Beyond the Headlines: connecting science, journalism and climate — from the Amazon to Antarctica on the road to COP30
COP30, to be held in Brazil, marks a critical turning point in the global response to the climate crisis. In this context, the integration of science and communication becomes increasingly urgent to ensure that the right stories are told — with accuracy, depth and social relevance. As climate impacts become more visible across Brazil — from devastating floods in the South to prolonged drought in the North — it becomes clear that the narrative must reflect the full complexity of the crisis, connecting the Amazon, the Brazilian biomes, the ocean and Antarctica.
Part of the official program of the Ocean Culture Festival 2025, this session invites journalists, communicators and scientists to engage in a strategic and inspiring dialogue about the key themes that will shape climate coverage in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém. The discussion will focus on how Brazilian science — across oceanic, polar and terrestrial systems — can be translated into compelling narratives that mobilize public engagement and inform decision-making.
Core topics will include the media representation of Brazil’s major biomes under climate stress; the integration of the ocean as a critical part of the climate solution; the role of Antarctica in Earth system stability; and the urgent need to communicate scientific knowledge in ways that are accessible, accurate, and resistant to misinformation.
This will be a space for collective reflection and cross-sector collaboration — a call to strengthen the bond between science and journalism in service of a just, informed and resilient future.
Speakers:
- Omar Rodrigues (Fundação Grupo Boticário)
- Beatrice Padovani
- Tatiane Combi
- Andrea Cruz and Claudia Morosi (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation)
- Ronaldo Christofoletti
- Vinicius Lindoso
- journalists TBC
12pm - 1:30pm — Lunch
1:30pm - 3pm — Living Frontiers: Ocean Literacy, Cities and Ports in a Changing Climate
This session will explore how the interdependence between cities and ports can strengthen climate resilience on a rapidly changing planet. Through the lens of ocean literacy — which recognizes our deep connection with the ocean — representatives from various strategic sectors will discuss the challenges and opportunities in aligning urban development, port logistics, and climate sustainability.
The dialogue will highlight ways to integrate public policy, territorial innovation, and collective awareness, showcasing solutions that promote cities better prepared to adapt to climate change.
Speakers:
- Paulo Alexandre Barbosa – President of the Joint Parliamentary Front on Ports and Airports,
- Anderson Pomini – President of the Port Authority of Santos,
- Cristina Castro Lucas de Souza – Superintendent of ESG and Innovation at ANTAQ,
- Neusa Ferreira Marcelino – CEO of CMA CGM Brazil,
- Rogério Santos – Mayor of Santos,
- Mauro Sammarco – President of the Santos Commercial Association,
- Eliane Sammarco – President of IBI Social Institute,
- Ketlin Feitosa – Director of Corporate Affairs at AMBIPAR,
- Andrea Latgé – Secretary of Strategic Programs and Policies, Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI),
- Sergio Monforte – UNESCO,
- Alexandra Mias – Consul General of France in São Paulo
3:30pm - 5pm — Meeting of Waters: Science, Education and Youth on the Road to COP30
In this session, two distinct yet deeply connected movements — united by shared purpose and urgency — come together like great rivers converging toward the ocean of climate transformation. On one side, the Science and Voices from the Amazon Movement, which has been mobilizing universities, scientists, research centers, and social movements to highlight strategic issues that should be prioritized at COP30 in Belém. On the other side, the Blue School Program and its partners, who have been engaging schools, students, and educators from all regions of Brazil — and beyond — in initiatives that integrate basic education, science, and ocean literacy, with a focus on youth leadership.
This symbolic convergence of science and education, of academia and youth, of science and broader society, marks a moment of synergy, exchange, and collaborative construction. The session will present how each movement has acted independently yet convergently, preparing diverse audiences for COP30. More than sharing initiatives, this gathering will serve as a space for listening and coordination — to amplify impact, connect agendas, and strengthen alliances between those who research, teach, and mobilize — from forests to coastlines, from schools to universities, from the Amazon to the ocean.
6pm — Individual dinner
9am - 12pm — International Forum on the Blue Curriculum: Connecting Scales to Transform Ocean Education
The development of a Blue Curriculum — one that integrates the ocean as a central element in education, climate awareness, and sustainable development — requires collaborative action across multiple governance levels. The International Forum on the Blue Curriculum will bring together participants from different regions and sectors to discuss how local, state, national, and intergovernmental efforts are converging to shape the future of ocean education.
This session will focus on four key areas essential to this transformation: the implementation of effective public policies, the training and ongoing development of educators, the creation of accessible and high-quality educational resources, and the engagement of society as an active partner in the process.
Through the presentation of successful case studies and diverse experiences, the forum will illustrate how different territories are advancing their own Blue Curriculum strategies in alignment with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Rather than proposing a single model, the forum invites a collective reflection: How can we ensure that the ocean becomes a meaningful, interdisciplinary, and transformative presence in schools around the world? And how can we do so while respecting cultural diversity, local contexts, and the principles of social and environmental justice?
12pm - 2pm — Group Lunch at Bourbon
2pm - 5pm — Ocean Literacy JEDI: Justice in All Waters
6pm —
Main objective: To consolidate learning and outline future strategies for individual and collective action to advance research in ocean literacy.
Content:
- Critical evaluation of the Advanced School and the training trajectory.
- Construction and presentation of proposals aligned with Vision 2030.
- Collaborative construction of a guide for next steps and commitments.
- Discussion on opportunities in the State of São Paulo and beyond.
- Strengthening the international network and links between participants.
- Planning how to take learning home and out into the world.
10am - 12pm — Break-out groups and discussions
12pm - 2pm — Lunch
2pm - 4pm — Mentoring and Working Groups: future steps
6pm — Free dinner
10am – 12pm — Working Group Presentations and Discussions
12pm - 1:30pm — Lunch
1:30pm - 6pm — Plenary and dynamics: learnings and future perspectives
6pm — Group dinner
9am - 11am — Evaluations and Final considerations
11am - 12pm — Closing
12pm - 1:30pm — Lunch
1:30pm - 6pm — Departures
6pm — Group dinner
Tidal Talks: 3 minutes that move minds
Plural Oceans, Shared Knowledge
This session brings together different knowledge systems — from science to traditional wisdom — to navigate complexity and co-create solutions for our shared ocean.
Ramona Haegele – Time to turn the tide in marine sciences
Navya Vikraman Nair – Tides of Knowledge: Blue Carbon, Clear Waters, Shared Futures
Virginia Carrara – Marine Chemistry Ecology
Ann-Kristin Konzak – International Cooperation and Knowledge Brokering
Stacey Alvarez de la Campa – The Healing of Intergenerational Genocidal Trauma through the Celebration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Tlotlo Bridgette Lebeko – Documenting Indigenous Knowledge Systems and their role in marine and ocean governance.
Giovanna Santini Ruta Lopes – Socio-environmental conservation networks: Understanding the Governance and Management of Marine Protected Areas Networks on the coast of São Paulo State
Maria Angelica Toro Wills – Bridging Science and Policy for a Sustainable Cartagena Bay
Maria Lucia Ramos Bellenzani – Lived landscapes and climate resilience: building strategies from the perspective of people.
Lucas Assumpção Lolis – From Threat to Tool: Using Invasive Species to Restore Coral Reefs in Bahia, Brazil
Sol Silva Santana – Acoustic and Behavioral Characterization of Globicephala macrorhynchus in the South Atlantic: Insights for Cetacean Conservation in Brazil
Julia Terra Souza Torres – Eukaryotic biodiversity of coastal islands of São Paulo through environmental DNA and metabarcoding
Marcela Dalete Moraes – Tides of Survival: Small-Scale Fishers and the impacts of a Militarized Ocean Conservation
Samuel Kakra Boamah – Investigating the impact of carbonate dissolution on rocks
Alison Glassie – Skin boats, seal coats and situated knowledges
Daphine Ramiro Herrera – Shrimp, Science, and the Plastic Problem