GEM Webinar Series (4th Event): Sharing the Vision of Ocean Decade Projects under GEM
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
On July 21, 2026, the Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme hosted its 4th Event in the GEM Webinar Series. During this event, the leaders of four Ocean Decade projects hosted by the GEM Programme were invited to present their projects and the progress made.
The session commenced with Blandina Lugendo (from Tanzania)'s presentation titled "Protecting the Estuaries in the WIO Region," emphasizing the significance of safeguarding estuaries in this crucial WIO region and addressing key threats and challenges.
Following that, Alexandre ten Caten from Brazil took the floor to discuss "Hyperspectral Sensing of Coastal Soils," alongside his student, Nicolas Ortiz. They shared their research experiences using hyperspectral sensing technology to detect pollutants in coastal soils and proposed innovative research directions, including utilizing this technology to identify emerging contaminants, inspiring the audience and fostering collaboration opportunities.
The latter part of the session delved into the integration of science with the public. Angie Richard from France presented "Regenerative Tides: Sailing for Solutions (ReTISS)," focusing on repurposing abandoned ships in offshore areas to mitigate potential environmental impacts by suggesting diverse approaches to transform these vessels into valuable resources.
Seungil Pak from the Republic of Korea introduced the newly endorsed Ocean Decade Project, "Ocean Data Tapestry International Forum," emphasizing the integration of science, art, education, and community engagement while showcasing impactful activities to disseminate marine science knowledge effectively.
Concluding the webinar, Prof. Kenneth Leung, the director of the GEM Programme, shared his closing remarks, acknowledging the progress achieved across projects and encouraging enhanced collaboration in the future. He also highlighted the latest advancements within the GEM Programme, introduced the development vision of GEM along with the upcoming journal "Future Ocean," and extended an invitation to like-minded partners to join this endeavor.
For a comprehensive review of the webinar, please refer to the video below.
