Enhancing Global Ocean Science Networks: The Impact of SCOR’s Travel Grant Initiative

The capacity sharing approach of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) focuses on supporting opportunities for individual ocean scientists and students within SCOR’s portfolio of scientific activities and through targeted capacity development opportunities. This presentation focuses on SCOR’s travel grant program, which has supported the attendance of early career researchers (ECRs) from developing countries at conferences, workshops, trainings/courses, and other meetings with an ocean science component since 1984. It will include the findings from an analysis of SCOR’s digital records of supported events and recipients from 1999-2023, prepared for publication in the special issue of Oceanography on A Vision for Capacity Sharing in the Ocean Sciences. This analysis provides insights into the geographical distribution of host countries and recipient home countries, provides lessons for administering such a program, and suggests directions for future growth. This program can be utilized by the ocean science community broadly to expand international participation and cooperation in their efforts. It can also serve as a model for other organizations to implement a program that supports their own regional or disciplinary priorities.