🌊🎙️ What does collaboration look like when the ocean itself becomes a frontline?

In Episode 27 we are joined by research scientistAlice Guittard. Set against the backdrop of the Black Sea – a region shaped by both ecological richness and geopolitical tension – this episode brings you into the heart of the now-concludedBRIDGE Black Sea project.And what emerges is not just a story of research, but of resilience…

In this special, first-ever crossover between Ocean Collaborations and Reef Roundup Podcast, something quietly radical happens: two podcasts, one shared ocean, and a conversation that refuses to accept fragmentation – of ecosystems, of communities, or of hope. 🤝 Graham Patterson is ‘diving the talk’ with Jan Maisenbacher in courageous, transformative ocean collaboration.

If you are looking for actionable ways to build cross-sector coalitions in a zone that is suffering from war, this episode is for you. Here are a few collaboration insights:

🛠️ The Power of “Living Labs” for Systemic Change:

* Breaking silos by uniting public, private, academia, and civil society around shared sustainability challenges.

* Building deep trust and understanding among diverse stakeholders who rarely meet but share common end goals.

* Co-designing actionable strategies rather than just talking, turning local needs into concrete blue economy solutions.

💡 Innovative Tools & Ecosystems for the Sustainable Blue Economy:

* Developing the Black Sea Digital Twin of the Ocean to predict future scenarios and empower local decision-makers.

* Launching accelerator programs that connect young blue economy entrepreneurs with vital resources and networks.

* Bridging the critical gap between available private sustainability funding and local, on-the-ground implementation.

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But what makes this episode truly stand out is its timing – and its courage.

While wars rage across multiple waters, this conversation doesn’t look away. It acknowledges the unseen casualties: marine life silenced by pollution, coastal economies collapsing, scientific collaboration disrupted. And yet, it insists on something else too – that collaboration is still possible, even now.

From Ukrainian researchers continuing their work under fire, to local actors finding common ground across divided shores, this episode is a reminder: the ocean connects where politics divides. 🕊️

This episode became possible thanks to the media partnership of Podcast Ocean Collaborations at the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice in June 2025 organised from Ifremer & CNRS.

Alice Guittard on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceguittard/ Research project BRIDGE Black Sea: Advancing knowledge, delivering research, empowering citizens for sustainable and climate-neutral Black Sea: https://bridgeblacksea.org

Living Lab Methodology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_lab

Graham Patterson on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahampatterson

REEF Roundup Podcast: https://www.reef-roundup.com

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