Coastal and marine environments are vital to human health, providing essential benefits from nutrition and livelihoods to mental well-being. Yet, these ecosystems face mounting pressures from climate change, pollution and overexploitation. This European Thematic Network (ETN) bridges disciplines like marine science, public health and social sciences to address these challenges through transdisciplinary education, research and public engagement.
The ETN offers thematic workshops and a transdisciplinary summer school to enhance participants' skills in integrated ocean and health research. An online educational platform will host curated materials to support lifelong learning, while doctoral networks will train early-career researchers in transdisciplinary skills across academia, industry and government.
Public engagement is a key component, with regional stakeholder hubs connecting communities, policymakers and researchers to co-design solutions, such as marine-based nutrition programs. The network will also conduct targeted outreach via social media, symposia and interactive tools to empower citizens as ocean stewards and health advocates.
In research, the ETN aims to develop transdisciplinary frameworks that harmonize data collection across marine ecology, nutrition and public health. This will enable comprehensive studies of ocean-human interactions across Europe. The network will foster pan-European collaborations via staff exchanges and joint projects, paving the way for future Horizon Europe proposals.
By uniting academia, communities and policymakers, this network aims to safeguard ocean health while advancing human well-being, aligning with the One Health approach and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants and Stakeholders
Coordinator
- Ghent University – prof. Jana Asselman
- Other Partner Institutions:
- University of Groningen
- University of Galway
- University of the Basque Country
Team Composition
Ghent University:
- Jana Asselman: Coordinator
- Dr Sara Vandamme: Coordinator
- Prof Carl Lachat
- Prof Colin Janssen
- Prof Jan Bourgois
- Prof Lies Lahousse
- Prof Henk Roose
- Prof Ann Buysse
- Prof Lynn Vanhaecke
- Dr Nathalie Michels
- Ewout Ramon: Lifelong learning
University of Groningen:
- Dr Thijs Bouman
University of Galway:
- Prof Olivier Thomas
- Dr Maggie Reddy
- Dr Ronan Sulpice
- Dr Ann Mullen
University of the Basque Country:
- Prof Manuel Soto
- Prof Nestor Etxebarria
- Prof Ionan Marigomez
- Dr Oihane Diaz De Cerio
Stakeholder/External partners
- UZ Gent – University Hospital
- VLIZ – Flanders Marine Institute
- Global Action Network / European Bureau for Conservation and Development
- Itsasmuseum Bilbao
Objectives
- Transdisciplinary Education:
Develop workshops, summer schools and online platforms to equip researchers and other stakeholders with integrated skills in marine science, public health and social sciences. - Public Engagement:
Establish regional stakeholder hubs and conduct outreach campaigns to raise awareness of ocean-health links and empower citizens. - Transdisciplinary Research:
Harmonize data collection across disciplines to study complex ocean-human health interactions and develop predictive frameworks. - Pan-European Collaboration:
Foster a robust network of researchers and stakeholders to accelerate knowledge exchange and joint projects, preparing for Horizon Europe proposals. - Global Impact:
Align with the One Health approach and UN Sustainable Development Goals by translating research into actionable policies to combat global challenges like food insecurity, non-communicable diseases and climate risks.
Contact
Contact persons
Prof Jana Asselman / Dr Sara Vandamme
Project Website: https://www.ugent.be/marine/en/partnerships/h2ope
Highlights of the Project
What excites me most about this project is its unique ability to unite diverse disciplines — marine science, public health, social sciences and beyond — under a shared vision. By fostering trust and mutual understanding across these fields, we’re breaking down silos to tackle complex challenges at the intersection of oceans and human health. This collaborative spirit drives innovation, enabling us to push scientific boundaries and create solutions that benefit both ecosystems and communities. Seeing experts from vastly different backgrounds align around a common goal — protecting ocean health to safeguard human well-being — is what fuels my passion for this work. - Coordinator