CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

BRIDGES x DATA TERRA SCHOOLS

COMORES 2025

REUNION ISLAND 2025

Towards FAIR, ethical, and sustainable research data management for Open Science

📍La Saline les Bains, Reunion Island | 📅8-12 December 2025 > ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

📍Moroni, Comores | 📅15-19 December 2025 > ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

What are the best practices for managing research data throughout the data lifecycle, from collection to sharing and exploitation of scientific data relating to marine social-ecological systems in the southwestern Indian Ocean?

BRIDGES is launching a series of schools on data management, in collaboration with Data Terra Research Infrastructure, at its four partner sites.

The first school will take place from December 8 to 12 in Reunion Island. The second will take place from December 15 to 19 in Moroni, Comoros.

Introducing BRIDGES

BRIDGES – Fisheries and Biodiversity in the Indian Ocean is an interdisciplinary research program (2023-2033) bringing together over 200 researchers, which aims to co-construct solutions for sustainable and fair fisheries and biodiversity conservation in the SWIO.

In the face of global changes that are exacerbating pressure on fishery resources, BRIDGES relies on close collaboration between scientists, decision-makers and users to design and connect spatialized management tools (e.g. Marine Protected Areas, other area-based effective conservation measures – OECM) to guarantee biodiversity conservation, food security, environmental justice and peaceful resource management.

The program operates on a regional scale and at four coastal sites (Comoros, Reunion, Mayotte, Mozambique), where it is developing digital models to generate future scenarios and test these solutions. It collects, stores and shares data to enrich projections. The measurement of transformations and impacts will serve as a compass for the duration of the program.

BRIDGES supports the training of a new generation of ocean professionals through thematic schools, doctoral networks and integration into regional master’s programs. Recognized by COP11 of the Nairobi Convention, BRIDGES is aligned with the SDGs and the global goal of 30% protected oceans by 2030.

Le projet ciblé BRIDGES INFORMATION développe un système d’information regroupant les données et les ressources numériques existantes, utiles à l’étude des socio-écosystèmes marins du SOOI. Il servira de socle de données et de connaissance pour les autres projets ciblés BRIDGES et pour la communauté scientifique plus largement. Pour cela, et à travers le volet Partage des capacités et formation, il accompagne et forme les acteurs de la région à la FAIRisation des ressources numériques, pour consolider une communauté technique et scientifique autour des données.

The BRIDGES INFORMATION targeted project is developing an information system that brings together existing data and digital resources useful for studying the SWIO marine social-ecological systems. It will serve as a data and knowledge base for other BRIDGES targeted projects and for the scientific community more broadly. To this end, and through the Knowledge and Capacity Sharing component, it supports and trains regional stakeholders in the FAIRization of digital resources, with a view to consolidating a technical and scientific community around the data.

School presentation

An active teaching approach:

Interactive presentations, practical exercises, real local case studies or from BRIDGES sites, field sessions and real-life situations with multidisciplinary expert speakers. The school will also include moments to support participants according to their specific needs.

Pedagogical objectives:

• Identify existing data in the region related to BRIDGES themes and provide guidance on how to manage it.
• Provide training on global best practices relating to the research data lifecycle, Open Science, and FAIR principles.
• Learn about best practices for the different stages of the data lifecycle: from data reuse or creation to publication and promotion.

Benefits:

• Networking with various stakeholders from the territory.
• Support for participants’ specific data management needs and application to concrete cases.
• Transdisciplinary exchanges: biodiversity, environment, fisheries, humanities and social sciences, etc.
• Acquisition of transferable tools applicable to your projects.

Program :

Who can apply?

This school is intended for partners and the BRIDGES ecosystem of actors located in Reunion Island/Comoros, namely:

• producers, managers, or users of data related to BRIDGES themes (scientists, public administrations, marine area managers, associations, NGOs, etc.)
• doctoral students, post-doctoral students, and young researchers involved in BRIDGES topics and located in Reunion Island/Comoros

Selection criteria

Candidates will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Involvement in BRIDGES
• Academic/professional background related to the topics covered by the school
• Your connection to data: producer, user, Earth science data, humanities and social science data, etc.
• Your involvement in the maritime and coastal sectors of the territory
• Motivation and implementation of the skills acquired in your daily life
• Contribution to the training: Candidates are encouraged to bring a case study or a concrete project in progress, which they can enrich through group exercises and peer learning.
• Availability and commitment: participants must be available to attend the five days of face-to-face training in Réunion/Comoros.
• Active participation in discussions, group work, and exchanges is expected.

N.B. Disciplinary, geographical, and gender balance will also be taken into account in order to create a diverse and complementary group.

The training will be conducted in French.

Comment candidater

Les candidats doivent remplir le formulaire de candidature en ligne avant le 15 octobre 2025 à 12h (UTC+4). Les candidatures reçues par e-mail ne seront pas prises en compte.

Les résultats seront annoncés en novembre 2025.

How to apply

Candidates must complete the online application form before October 15, 2025 at 12pm (UTC+4). Applications received by e-mail will not be considered. 

Results will be announced in november 2025.

📍La Saline les Bains, Reunion Island | 📅8-12 December 2025 > ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

📍Moroni, Comores | 📅15-19 December 2025 > ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

Ce qui est pris en charge

Les candidats sélectionnés pour participer à la formation bénéficieront des prestations suivantes :

• Participation à toutes les sessions d’enseignement de la formation + séminaire
• Collations et déjeuners pendant les 5 jours de formation
• Participation à la collecte de données sur le terrain
• Selon les besoins, prise en charge de l’hébergement/du transport après examen de la demande

What is covered

Candidates selected to take part in the school will benefit from the following cover:

• Participation in all School teaching sessions + seminary day
• Snacks and lunches during the 5 days of training
• Participation in field data collection
• Depending on requirements, accommodation/transportation will be provided after review of the application.