One Ocean Week will share insights on how to communicate ocean-related issues to an international audience and foster engagement for a sustainable future during the CommOcean ocean conference at the University of Bergen (UiB) on September 2–3.
CommOCEAN is an international conference series dedicated to the communication of ocean research and marine topics. The conference brings together researchers, communicators, decision-makers, educators, and communications professionals to develop better ways to share knowledge about the ocean. The goal is to bridge the gap between research and society, strengthen understanding of the ocean, and inspire action for the world’s oceans. The University of Bergen and the Norwegian Marine University Consortium are organizing this year’s conference. Around 150 participants, primarily from Europe, will gather here to discuss the ocean, research, and communication. The conference takes place every other year and is being held in Norway for the first time. The registration deadline is August 26. The main theme is “Communication for and within the UN Ocean Decade: Setting Sails for 2030, ” with a particular focus on technology, artificial intelligence, civic engagement, trust, and ocean literacy.
At CommOCEAN 2026, One Ocean Week will host a workshop that highlights how the vision of a sustainable ocean is communicated in different countries. Participants are invited to share examples of ocean-related issues that have garnered national attention, discuss why certain messages resonate, and identify which forms of communication work best with different target audiences. The goal is to find new ways to foster lasting engagement with the ocean and bring initiatives like One Ocean Week to a wider international audience.
– Through this workshop, we want to explore how we can communicate ocean issues in a way that fosters engagement and action across national borders, cultures, and target groups. One Ocean Week has demonstrated the power of bringing together researchers, the business community, government agencies, and citizens around the ocean, and we look forward to sharing experiences and learning from others who work with ocean communication internationally, says Harm Christian Tolden, Director of Communications at The City of Bergen.
SEE ALSO: Read more about CommOCEAN
The program also features former OOW guest James Honeyborne, who will deliver the main keynote address. James is an Emmy Award winner for the TV series *Blue Planet II* and *Our Great National Parks*. He has a special connection to Bergen through his collaboration with the University of Bergen (UiB) on the Netflix series *Our Oceans*. In addition, OceanX will deliver a keynote address. We’ll also meet Haakon Vatle from Lehmkuhl, Dorothy Dankel from SINTEF Ocean/Polhavet 2050 , and young HI researcher Didrik Hjertaker Grevskott, who will share his experiences from the Researcher Grand Prix.
