Two members of KAUST's Marine Microbiomes Lab, Ali Alabyadh and Ahmed Alsagaff, have embarked on an extraordinary journey as part of the inaugural cohort of Early Career Explorers. This groundbreaking initiative, in partnership with the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), is fostering the next generation of ocean advocates and explorers.

The Early Career Explorers program recognizes the diverse career paths that a passion for ocean exploration can inspire, spanning science, policy, engineering, and storytelling. Ali and Ahmed, representing KAUST's cutting-edge marine microbiome research, joined this expedition that provides a unique opportunity to enhance their advocacy skills for ocean conservation, build robust support networks, and deepen their understanding of advanced ocean exploration methods.

The expedition, facilitated by the Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON), focuses on expanding knowledge of marine biodiversity and promoting sustainable ocean practices and Ali and Ahmed's participation underscores KAUST's and the Marine Microbiomes Lab's commitment to fostering future leaders in marine science and conservation.