All times are in local time in Accra, Ghana (UTC +0)
Language of the sessions: English with French live intepretation available for the plenary sessions.
The Symposium will take place at the Alisa Hotel North Ridge, Accra, Ghana.
To download the PDF version of the draft agenda and programme description, click here.
To download PDF of the detailed agenda of the training sessions that will take place on 24 Oct 9h00-15h30), click here.
You can also click on each day below to see the detailed agenda.
Last updated 30/09/2022
24 Oct
Pre-event: Training
24 Oct
PM
Symposium Opening
25 Oct AM
Plenary: Fisheries
25 Oct
PM
Plenary: Ecosystem Conservation
26 Oct
AM
Plenary: Coastal Hazards
26 Oct
PM
Symposium Closing
27 Oct
Thematic Workshops
28 Oct
Thematic Workshops
24 Oct
Pre-event: Training
09:00-15:30 | Training Sessions | Venue: Ridge Arena |
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| 9:00- 9:05 | Welcome from GEO Blue Planet Secretariat | |
| 9:05- 9:10 | Remarks from local organising committee | |
| 9:15- 10:00 |
What are Ocean and Coastal Observations and Why are They Important?Nikelene Mclean, Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division, STAR/NESDIS, NOAAIntroduction to Observational Oceanography and ModellingFifi Adodo (PhD), Mercator Ocean International Rory Scarrott (PhD), University College Cork, Horizon Europe-funded DOORS project |
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Parallel Training Sessions |
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| Venue: Ridge Arena Target audience: General Public | Venue: Prins Hall (tbc) Target audience: Technical / Academia | |
| 10:00- 10:15 | Tea/coffee break | |
| 10:15- 11:00 |
Introduction to Remote Sensing for Decision MakingEbenezer Nyadjiro (PhD), NOAA National Centre for Environmental Information |
Introduction to Open Source EO Tools: Copernicus Marine Service and Jupyter NotebooksFabrice Messal, Mercator Ocean International Bennet Foli, University of Ghana |
| 11:00- 11:45 |
Regional Applications of Earth Observations:
Monitoring Ocean and Coastline Changes in
Ediang Okuku Archibong (PhD),
Nigerian Meteorological Agency |
Application of Open-Source Tools for Fisheries, Biodiversity Conservation and Coastal Erosion Applications in West AfricaEbenezer Nyadjiro (PhD), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information |
| 11:45- 13:00 | Lunch | |
| 13:00- 13:45 |
Marine and Coastal Data Products for Decision MakingFabrice Messal, Mercator Ocean International, Bennet Foli, University of Ghana Ignatius Williams, University of Ghana |
Introduction to Spatial Data Management and Time Series Analysis of Ocean DataDhritiraj Sengupta (PhD), University of South Hampton |
| 13:45- 14:00 | Break | |
| 14:00- 14:45 |
Coastal Observations for Under-Resourced CountriesLucie Cocquempot, IFREMER, France Tommy Bornman, Jethan d’Hotman, Juliet Hermes, South African Environmental Observation Network Gregory Cowie, University of Edinburg |
Retrieval, Processing and Analysis of Remotely Sensed Ocean Data: Utilising NASA Resources for Ocean AnalysisRichard Damoah (PhD), NASA GESTAR Anthony Kinyua (PhD), Morgan State University |
| 14:45- 15:30 |
Coastal and Marine Data for Management and National DevelopmentAntisem Donkor (PhD), Institute of Applied Science and Technology Edwin Foli, Regional Institute for Population Studies, Ghana Selorm Akabutu, Maritime University, Ghana |
ICAN (~technical training on EO data tool/processing/analysis~)Trainer tbc |
24 Oct
PM
Symposium Opening
Opening Ceremony | Venue: Ridge ArenaModerators: GEO Blue Planet co-chairs – Ana Carolina Ruiz F ernandez (National Autonomous University of Mexico), Jose Moutinho (AIR Centre), Kwame Adu Agyekum (University of Ghana) | |
15:30 – 16:00 | Onsite registration & refreshments |
16:00 – 16:45 | Opening session: Welcome remarks
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16:45 – 18:00 | Introductory keynote presentations
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18:00 – 20:00 | Welcome reception + opening of the Symposium ForumThe Forum consists of six thematic booths that will serve as informal roundtables and exhibit posters to facilitate discussions among conference participants on the themes of i) Fisheries, ii)Ecosystem Conservation, iii) Coastal Hazards, iv) Stakeholder Engagement, v) Cooperation and Co-design and vi) Capacity Development |
25 Oct AM
Plenary: Fisheries
09:00-12:00 | Venue: Ridge Arena, Alisa Hotel
Co-Chairs: Nikelene Mclean (NOAA), Dr. Isa Elegbede (Bradenburg University) and
Dr. Stewart Bernard (South African National Space Agency)
USER NEEDS: KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS FROM AFRICAN END-USERS | |||
| 9:00-9:05 | Introduction | Session moderators | |
| 9:05-9:15 | Small scale fishers | Dr. Greg Duggan – Abalobi | |
| 9:15-9:25 | Commercial fishing | Innocent Dwayi – FishSA (tbc) | |
| 9:25-9:35 | Fisheries Economics | Dr. Wisdom Akpalu – Institute of Management and Public Administration , Ghana | |
| 9:40-10:00 | Panel Discussion | ||
| Break 15’ | |||
TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES | |||
| 10:15-10:20 | Introduction | Session moderators | |
| 10:20-10:35 | Overview presentation on how Earth Observations can be used for Fisheries and Aquaculture General presentation from NOAA | Katie Geddes – University of Miami, ORTA NOAA | |
| 10:35-10:50 | General presentation of the South African Oceans and Coastal Information Management System (OCIMS) | Dr Marie Smith – Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa | |
| Break 15’ | |||
INSPIRING EXAMPLES | |||
| 11:05-11:10 | Welcome from moderator | ||
| 11:10-11:25 | Earth Observations for Fisheries and Aquaculture site selections | Dr Antoine Mangin – ACRI-ST Space Sciences | |
| 11:25-11:40 | GMES and Africa Safety at Sea Service | Mr. Bennet Atsu- Foli – GMES & Africa / University of Ghana | |
| 11:40-11:55 | Earth Observations to support Barbados Fisheries | Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox – Blue Shell Productions, Barbados | |
25 Oct
PM
Plenary: Ecosystem Conservation
14:00-17:00 | Venue: Ridge Arena
Co-Chairs: Rory Scarrott (University College Cork), Abdoulaye Diagana (UNEP Abidjan Convention)
and Isabel Sousa-Pinto (Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), IPBES)
| USER NEEDS: KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS FROM AFRICAN END-USERS | ||
14:00-14:05 | Introduction |
| Session moderators |
14:05-14:15 | Abidjan Convention – A framework to address transboundary issues facing Southeast Atlantic coastal ecosystems |
| UNEP Abidjan Convention (tbc) |
14:15-14:25 | Ecosystem conservation as a foundation for sustainable Blue Economies |
| Gabriel Akoko Juma (ECOP Africa Coordination Unit) |
14:25-14:45 | Panel discussion to help identify synergies |
| Session speakers |
| Break 15’ |
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| TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES | ||
15:00-15:05 | Introduction |
| Session moderator |
15:05-15:20 | UNEP-GEMS Ocean: Harnessing multi-stakeholder partnerships to transform data into action |
| Niccolo Bassan (UNEP-GEMS Ocean & Coasts) |
15:20-15:35 | WIOMSA: Developing international and inter-disciplinary research capacity in support of regional ecosystem conservation efforts |
| Louis Cellier (WIOMSA) |
15:35-15:55 | EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters |
| Gary Kett (All-Atlantic Youth Ambassador, University College Cork), and Sigi Gruber (Active Senior Advisor to the European Commission) |
| Break 15’ | ||
| INSPIRING EXAMPLES | ||
16:10-16:15 | Introduction |
| Session moderator |
16:15-16:30 | The Sargassum Information hub: Exploiting satellite data to support Sargassum monitoring and forecasting |
| Dr. Shelly-Ann (Cox – Blue Shell Productions, Barbados) |
16:30-16:45 | MANCOGA – Using data and co-design approach in understanding the role of mangroves in sustaining fisheries |
| Senyo Adzah (The Development Institute) |
16:45-17:00 | The issue of microplastics, and the potential role for satellite data |
| Dr. Ebenezer Nyadjro (Mississippi State University/NOAA) |
17:00-18:30 | INTERACTIVE POSTER SESSIONSix thematic booths that will serve as informal roundtables and exhibit posters to facilitate discussions among conference participants on the themes of i) Fisheries, ii)Ecosystem Conservation, iii) Coastal Hazards, iv) Stakeholder Engagement, v) Cooperation and Co-design and vi) Capacity Development |
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26 Oct
AM
Plenary: Coastal Hazards
09:00-12:15 | Venue: Ridge Arena
Co-Chairs: Lisa Rebelo (Digital Earth Africa) & Tania Li Chen (AIR Centre) & Fifi Adodo (Mercator Ocean International)
USER NEEDS KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS FROM AFRICAN END-USERS | |||
9:00-9:05 | Introduction | Session moderator | |
9:05-9:20 | Keynote on coastal zone risks assessment and capacity building needs | Prof. Kwasi Appeaning Addo (Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies- University of Ghana) | |
9:20-9:30 | African needs in capacity building | Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) lead speaker (tbc) | |
9:30-9:50 | ECOPS Panel Discussion on stakeholder’s needs: academics and research resource | Raphael Onguene (Douala Institute of Technology, Cameroun) Sandrine Djakouré (Université Felix Houphouet Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire) Temitope Sogbanmu, (University of Lagos, Nigeria) Gabriel Akoko Juma (ECOP Africa Coordination Unit, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research) | |
Break 15’ | |||
TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES | |||
10:05-10:10 | Introduction | Session moderator | |
10:10-10:25 | Copernicus Marine and the coastal zone monitoring & forecasting | Pierre-Yves Le Traon (Mercator Ocean International, France) | |
10:25-10:40 | Demonstration of Copernicus data access & visualisation services | Fabrice Messal – (Mercator Ocean International, France) | |
10:40-10:55 | Digital Earth Africa Coastlines: a continental-scale service for monitoring coastline changes around Africa | Cedric Jorand (Digital Earth Africa) | |
Break 15’ | |||
INSPIRING EXAMPLES | |||
11:10-11:15 | Introduction | Session moderator | |
11:15-11:30 | Examples of addressing coastal hazards challenges using space technology applications: Caribbean/Latin America oil spill project | Albert DeGarmo (NOAA, USA) | |
11:30-11:45 | Coastal erosion at regional scale | Donatus Angnuureng (ACeCOR/ University of Cape Coast, Ghana) | |
11:45-12:00 | Using remote sensing and modelling for coastal detection | Babette Tchonang (JPL/ NASA) | |
12:00-12:15 | Coastal monitoring and flooding risks mitigation | Anne-laure BECK (ARGANS Ltd.) | |
26 Oct
PM
Symposium Closing
12:15 – 14:00| Venue: Alisa Hotel Restaurant
12 :15 – 14 :00 | Lunch Townhall: Forum Closing NotesNikelene Mclean (NOAA) & Fifi Adodo (Mercator Ocean International) |
14:00 – 18:00| Venue: Ridge Arena, Alisa Hotel
14:00 – 17:00 | Copernicus private sector opportunities: Atlantic Ocean InteractionsChair: Tania Li Chen (AIR Centre) | |
Introduction | ||
14:00-14:10 | Welcome: Speaker introduction & overview of session | Tania Li Chen (AIR Centre) |
Space for Sustainable Development | ||
14:10-14:30 | Copernicus Marine Services for Africa | Mercator Ocean International |
14:30-14:50 | GMES & Africa: Marine and Coastal Areas Management in Africa & Copernicus Partnership | University of Ghana |
Showcasing Sustainable Innovation | ||
14:50-15:30 | SME Pitches Q&A | |
Break – 30 mins | ||
16:00-16:40 | SME Pitches Q&A | |
16:40-17:00 | Closing Remarks | |
17:00-18:00 | Symposium Closing Ceremony | |
18:00 – 20:00| Venue: Restaurant, Alisa Hotel
18:00-20:00 | Sit down dinner/ Social eventAll participants are invited to join us for the social dinner. |
27 Oct
Thematic Workshops
| 09:00-17:00 | Parallel Thematic Workshops | ||
| Venue: Alisa Hotel Opera 1 & 2 | ||
| 09:00-10:30 | Workshop 1: Earth Observations for Fisheries and Aquaculture Site Selection | |
| Tea break 15 mins | ||
| 10:45-12:00 | Workshop 1: Earth Observations for Fisheries and Aquaculture Site Selection continued | |
| 12:00-14:00 | Lunch at Alisa Hotel Restaurant | |
| Venue: Alisa Hotel Opera 1 & 2 | ||
| 14:00-15:30 | Workshop 2: Ocean and Coastal Observations for National Adaptation Plans | |
| Tea Break 15 mins | ||
| 15:45- 17:00 | Workshop 2: Ocean and Coastal Observations for National Adaptation Plans | |
28 Oct
Thematic Workshops
09:00-14:00 | Parallel Thematic Workshops | ||
Venue: Opera 1 | Venue: Opera 2 | |
09:00-10:30 | Workshop 3: Earth Observations for Coastline Changes | Workshop 4: Earth Observations for Sargassum Monitoring |
| Tea break 15 mins | |
10:45-11:45 | Workshop 3: Earth Observations for Coastline Coastline Changes Continued | Workshop 4: Earth Observations for Marine Litter Monitoring |
12:30-14:00 | Lunch | |
