The WOMBlue oceanographic training cruise, part of the global initiative Women in Blue: Training Opportunities in Ocean Science, set sail from Civitavecchia on Friday, 1 August 2025. Aboard the research vessel Gaia Blu, owned by the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, seven women scientists are taking part in a transformative week of at-sea training in marine geology and oceanography.
The initiative, led by the CNR Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), offers practical, on-the-job learning for early-career women researchers—particularly those from scientifically and technologically less developed countries. Among the selected participants is a representative of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), underscoring the project’s commitment to regional inclusivity and international collaboration.
This cruise marks the second phase of the training program, following the Marine Geology Advanced School: Deep-Sea Frontiers held in Bologna in January 2025. Participants were chosen based on their performance in that course and their potential to contribute to deep-sea research in their respective regions.
Under the supervision of senior scientists from CNR-ISMAR, participants are learning advanced techniques for acquiring and processing marine geophysical data, analyzing physical properties of the water column, and conducting environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling from both the seabed and water column. These activities support research on geological processes in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, with a focus on how these influence biodiversity on underwater features like seamounts.
“The Women in Blue training cruise supports skill-building for women in deep-sea science,” said Dr. Marzia Rovere, CNR-ISMAR scientist and coordinator of the initiative. “With support from the International Seabed Authority Partnership Fund, we are creating pathways for talented women from developing and least developed countries to access new career opportunities, strengthen scientific networks, and take on leadership roles in marine research.”
The WOMBlue project was one of the successful proposals selected for funding in the July 2024 call “ISAPF at 30,” celebrating three decades of the International Seabed Authority’s Partnership Fund.
The cruise will conclude on Thursday, 7 August 2025.
Source: "Women in Blue" project: research vessel Gaia Blu is hosting 7 women scientists from around the world | Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
