An exciting summer of achievements: Advancements in Water Governance, International Exchange and Integration of Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge

The ECOCARE teamis excited to share several key developments that reinforce our dedication to enhancing water governance, international exchange (with an integrated approach to research and education) and co-creation of knowledge (Indigenous and non-Indigenous

  1. Launch of the Autumn School "PROTECTION OF THE SEA: ADOPTING CO-CREATED METHODS OF (PUBLIC) PARTICIPATION" at the University of Bari, Sede di Taranto (DAAD Funded project)

This groundbreaking program, coordinated by Eva Lohse and Annamaria Bonomo, and co-developed by Margherita Paola Poto with the assistance of Laura Vita, is funded by DAAD. Hosted by the University of Bayreuth, University of Turin (Department of Management), and University of Bari, Sede di Taranto, the Autumn School involves members from the ECOCARE and the OCEAN INCUBATOR NETWORK teams. We are proud to have received endorsement from the UN Ocean Decade for this educational and research initiative.

  1. Endorsement of the Ocean Incubator Network Toolkit by the UN Ocean Decade (Effective from 1.9.2024)

The OIN Toolkit, a shared project result for both ECOCARE and OIN, is an extensive resource designed to boost public participation in ocean literacy, has received endorsement from the UN Ocean Decade. Scheduled for publication as an open access book by Palgrave Macmillan and co-edited by Margherita Paola Poto and Laura Vita, this toolkit will soon be available to a broad audience, ensuring widespread impact.

  1. Expansion to Argentina and Brazil

With support from UiT The Arctic University of Norway through Erasmus+ Global, our project is extending its influence to Argentina and Brazil for the next three academic years. This initiative, focusing on water governance from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives, is coordinated by Margherita Paola Poto and involves academic partners in Latin America, with Giulia Parola overseeing activities in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Chiquitano Territories in Mato Grosso, and Manaus) and Violeta Radovich, MSCA Postdoc Fellow in Argentina (Buenos Aires).

  1. Continued Commitment to Co-Creation of Knowledge

Our commitment to co-creating knowledge continues to be demonstrated, notably through recent activities at the Aldeia Maraka’nà. Led by Giulia Parola, Júlia Xavante, Ana María Montaña Mónoga, Natalia Médici Machado, and Aline Wennerstrom, with participation from Rodrigo Tavares, this initiative underscores our collaborative approach to environmental challenges. The resulting report has been submitted to Septentrio UiT and will soon be available as an open access resource, marking a significant outcome of the Living Laboratory on Ocean Literacy.

  1. Achievements at the Interface of Marine Geosciences and Indigenous Knowledge

We are delighted to announce that Natalia Médici Machado, our ECOCARE exchange student from Brazil, has been recognized by the European Geosciences Union for her compelling blog post on climate change and indigenous resilience. Her insightful work is accessible here: Natalia Medici (2024) Indigenous resilience through the waters: The story of the Aldeia Maraka’nà.