Blue Carbon Academy launches summer programme

The University of St Andrews, through its Blue Carbon Academy, is launching a new summer programme in July 2025 with a unique focus on field and laboratory training in blue carbon research.

The collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has been extended to provide a series of fully funded scholarships on the programme, with a focus on supporting participants from the Global South.

Blue Carbon Ecosystems provide important nature -based solutions for climate, people and biodiversity. As such, the focus of WWF on supporting capacity building from countries in the Global South is critical. Blue Carbon habitats in these countries are globally important in terms of their extent and their potential to contribute to climate change mitigation is significant, particularly in tropical mangrove forests.

However, these habitats are under threat and the summer programme at St Andrews will support a deeper understanding of blue carbon research and evidence to support policies which stand up for nature.

Professor Bill Austin, who leads the Blue Carbon Academy and is chair of the United Nations Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon, said: “We are indebted to WWF for their support, which opens up the opportunity for early career researchers from the Global South to engage with our blue carbon summer programme.

“At St Andrews, we are committed to sharing technical expertise in field and laboratory methods in ways that strengthen regional capacity and leadership. We are honoured that WWF has recognised our partnership as one way to help support and complement global capacity-building efforts and enable participation from countries in Global South.

“Our in-country partnership work is an important aspect of delivering the Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development and this funding will ensure that we can support and build our global partnership with tomorrow’s ocean leaders.”

Students attending the two week summer programme will complete an accredited course at the University of St Andrews. The programme includes fieldwork on the Scottish coastline, a daily schedule of morning lectures, followed by afternoon practical classes.

Training in advanced analytical techniques in the laboratory will be blended with data analysis, computer practicals to build geospatial skills, as well as policy seminars and student group work.

Dr Craig Smeaton, one of the academic staff contributing to the summer programme, added “this will be an immersive experience for students and and staff alike; the delivery team are looking forward to this innovative and exciting programme.”

More information on the programme, including scholarships, can be found on the Blue Carbon Academy webpages.