The Ocean Futures Fellowship: Building Ocean Career Pathways

Overview

The Ocean Futures Fellowship empowers the next generation of ocean professionals, equipping them to address pressing ocean challenges while strengthening their own career pathways. Through training, educational projects, professional development and mentorship over a six-month full-time program, Fellows will gain advanced skills, hands-on experience, and draw on OceanX’s international connections that not only build their career, but foster ocean literacy and leadership on a global scale.

The Fellowship program contributes to the goals of the UN Ocean Decade and SDG 14 by cultivating the next generation of ocean leaders who will drive innovation, inspire global audiences, and expand ocean literacy to foster ocean protection.

Fellows receive a stipend and are fully remote. The program includes the potential opportunity to travel on board the OceanXplorer vessel.

Focus

This cohort will prioritize applicants with demonstrated experience and/or strong interest in one or more of the following areas:

  1. Digital Correspondent – Communicating ocean science and conservation through journalism, storytelling, and digital platforms.
  2. Immersive Media Generalist – Using technology such as virtual reality, augmented reality, game design, UX/UI to engage audiences with ocean exploration and education.

Program Timeline, Location, and Support

Estimated Timeline

  • Late October 2025: Application Period Closes
  • Mid November 2025: Candidate Interviews
  • Late November 2025: Announcement of Fellowship Offers
  • Early January 2026: Start of Fellowship & Onboarding
  • June 2026: End of Fellowship

Location

Fellows will work remotely from their home countries throughout the six-month fellowship period. Fellows must be authorized to work in the country in which they currently reside.  Fellows will be expected to participate in virtual professional development training and meetings with OceanX Education staff and faculty throughout the fellowship.

Stipend

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend to support their full-time participation in the program. This stipend does not include additional allowances for housing, relocation, transportation, dependents, or other personal expenses. A technology stipend is available on a case-by-case basis to support remote working for selected Fellows.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be an OceanX Education Explorers alumni
  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Have spent time on the OceanXplorer in the last five years as part of the Young Explorers or Early Career Explorers program
  • Have demonstrated experience and/or strong interest related to one of the following roles: 1) Digital Correspondent, and 2) Immersive Media Generalist

Application Process

Applicants must complete an online application which includes:

  • General background information (e.g. contact information and details about your current and previous work related to ocean education)
  • Resume/CV
  • Responses to short essay questions
  • Short video outlining your qualifications and motivations for becoming an Ocean Futures Fellow

Important: Before starting the application, please have the following links ready to enter:

  • Link to your resume/CV (required)
  • Link to your video response (required)
  • Links to your sample project and English score (optional)
Apply Now

Deadline: Applications are due by Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11:59 PM U.S. Pacific Time.

Questions

Please email oceanfuturesfellowship@iie.org