FAQ - Our Ocean 2023

When and where is the event?

Our Ocean 2023 will be hosted from March 2-3, 2023 in Panama. The Our Ocean Youth Leadership will be held from February 27 to March 1, 2023 at the Bio Museo at Calzada de Amador Apartado 0843-02931, Ciudad de Panamá.

Who can apply to Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit?

Applicants must be problem-solvers, sustainability champions, students, or young professionals, and 18 to 35 years old. Applicants must have an interest in sustainability and contributing to solving our planet’s greatest challenges: ocean acidification, marine pollution, habitat destruction and overfishing to name a few. Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit provides a platform for learning, sharing, and taking action and will empower young leaders to take ocean action. Applicants from all countries are eligible.

I am not from Panama. Can I attend the summit?

Yes. The summit is open to international participants. Since 2017, 50 countries have been represented at the summit. Watch the highlights video here.

What is the event format?

The summit is a 2-day event from February 27 to March 1, 2023 and is being held in parallel to Our Ocean Conference.

The intended theme for the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit is “Our Ocean, Our Connection: Transforming for Our Sustainable Future”.

Across the board, program content will encourage youth to take a scientific approach to marine challenges in alignment with the UN Ocean Decade for Science. Specifically, panels will focus on the importance of leveraging data borne from science and technology to create informed ocean decisions and policy solutions that maximize output while minimizing harm. Overall, participants will leave the summit with an enriched understanding of the systemic challenges of ocean health and how they can bridge the needs of multiple stakeholders across government, the private sector and academia to spur ocean action and be agents of positive change.

The program agenda will soon be available and will be added to the website once it is ready.

How many young leaders will be selected and have the chance to participate in the summit?

This year, we will select 100 ocean leaders.

How can I apply?

Applications are now closed and note this event is not open to the public.

What are the selection criteria?

Participants will fill in an online application form and be evaluated against the following criteria:

Background - the extent to which an applicant’s area of focus professionally or academically is relevant to the conference themes.
Impact - the extent to which the applicant’s idea solves a real problem in the ocean sector and would provide overall benefits to society.
Feasibility - how realistic is the proposed commitment/idea/solution.
Scalability - how can the idea be scaled to new markets and/ or new industries.
Enthusiasm - how much passion and enthusiasm is shown in the application.
Vision - the extent to which the commitment aligns with the goals and values of Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and Our Ocean Conference. Additionally, how forward-thinking is the proposed commitment/idea/solution?
English proficiency - applicant’s capacity to articulate an idea in English
Leadership - applicant demonstrates strong communication skills and potential for leadership.
Ocean Impact - the level of interest and engagement in sustainability as it pertains to ocean health.

When will selected participants be announced?

Selected participants will be informed by 21 December, 2022 and publicly announced on the event website and social media on 11 January, 2023.

What do I need to prepare for the summit?

Upon acceptance, participants will receive additional information about the themes to be addressed and will be assigned groups based on their expertise and interest to work together on addressing challenges within these themes. The organizers will provide preparation materials accordingly. There will also be an onboarding call at the end of January with further details.

Do I have to pay for accommodation?

Participants will not pay for their accommodation and will stay in the same hotel in twin or triple rooms between February 27, 2023 to March 4, 2023.

Do I have to pay for my flight?

Participants will not pay for their flights. Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and Our Ocean Conference organizers will work with a travel agency to book flights on your behalf. The flights will be booked directly and you will not have to pay and then get reimbursed. Selected participants will receive an email from Our Ocean Conference organizers on 22 December, 2022 with travel details required to book their flights.

Will you cover my visa expenses?

If you require a visa to travel to Panama, we will be able to provide a visa letter. However, we will not cover any visa-related costs.

Do I need a passport to travel to Panama?

If you are not a national Panamanian citizen, you will need a passport. Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is not responsible for providing a passport or travel documents to selected participants. Please liaise with your embassy or consulate if you have any questions and ensure your passport is valid at least 6 months before expiry date.

Are meals included?

We offer breakfast and lunch during the course of the event. Dinner will be provided on 27 February and you will be invited to Our Ocean Conference welcome cocktail reception on 28 February.. Coffee breaks with drinks and light snacks will also be available during the length of the conference. You are responsible for other dinner-related costs.

If selected, what do I need to bring with me?

Please bring a notepad, a pen, your laptop, business cards (if you have), weather-appropriate clothes, passion and enthusiasm! Note: We will not provide water bottles. Please bring your own reusable water bottle.

What is the dress code?

Dress code for the length of the conference is business casual. For the welcoming cocktail reception, please wear cocktail attire or feel free to wear traditional attire from your country!

Can I attend Our Ocean Conference side events?

You must attend the youth leadership summit from 27 February to 1 March, 2023. From March 2 onwards, you will have the opportunity to mingle with Our Ocean Conference participants and engage in other side meetings.
Our Ocean Conference is organizing side events along with the main conference. Details will be provided at a later stage and will be available on Our Ocean Conference website.

Will we receive badges to the main Our Ocean Conference?

Yes, 50 interchangeable passes will be available for 2 March and 50 interchangeable passes will be available for 3 March. The badges are non-nominative and can be transferred.

Do I need COVID-19 vaccination to participate in this event?

Proof of vaccination is currently not required to enter the country of Panama. However, PLEASE NOTE: For our event (Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit), we will require all participants to be fully vaccinated (including relevant and accessible boosters) against COVID-19.

What does a conference badge look like and what information will be included?

See sample from past event below:

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