Empowering Early Career Ocean Professionals as Ambassadors of Ocean Best Practices

Early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs) are integral in shaping the future of ocean leadership. As they progress through the critical learning stages of their careers, ECOPs are often exposed to diverse, new, and innovative research methods. The Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS) is an international platform to foster exchange, development, convergence and endorsement of methods and practices. The concept of “best practices” in ocean science is a good means to share experiences and understand how practices mature and are adopted. It is, of course, highly context-dependent. The OBPS Ambassador Programme was created to promote cross-generational collaboration in developing best practices, especially within regional contexts. This process is often complex and requires nuanced strategies in knowledge exchange, mentorship, and professional development. Nevertheless, it has led to valuable contributions from ECOPs, increased their representation, and enhanced regional awareness of best practices. Through the Ambassador Programme, we aimed to rethink how we communicate, co-design methods, set priorities, and create practices that are inclusive and globally relevant.