The SEACHEM consortium successfully organised its fourth Network-Wide Training Event (NWE#4) in Antwerp, Belgium, from 22 to 25 April 2025. Hosted at the Antwerp Maritime Academy, the event brought together doctoral candidates (DCs), supervisors, and consortium partners for several days of scientific exchange, professional development, and collaborative discussions.
The programme opened with a dedicated workshop on business modelling for the SEACHEM doctoral candidates, followed by consortium meetings focused on project implementation, research progress, and academic achievements across the network. DCs presented updates on their ongoing research activities, creating opportunities for feedback and interdisciplinary discussion among project partners.
The second day combined consortium technical discussions and Supervisory Board meetings with training sessions addressing broader academic and professional development topics. Participants attended a session led by Prof. Barbara Rossi on experiences as a woman in academia, followed by a workshop on critical thinking delivered by Prof. Geert Potters.
A highlight of the event was the “Survival at Sea” training session organised on 24 April, providing participants with practical safety experience relevant to offshore and marine working environments. The programme also included participation in the AMPP Benelux Symposium on Corrosion, offering valuable insights into corrosion science, industrial practices, and emerging technologies connected to SEACHEM research themes.
The final day focused on data analysis training for doctoral candidates, including an introduction to machine learning applications and practical sessions on corrosion data analysis. These workshops further strengthened the technical and analytical skills of the researchers involved in the project.
NWE#4 once again demonstrated the interdisciplinary and collaborative spirit of the SEACHEM project, combining scientific training, transferable skills development, industry engagement, and networking opportunities in support of the next generation of researchers in offshore seaweed aquaculture and high-value chemical production.