Marine biodiversity literacy needs to draw on multiple disciplines, territories and perspectives to become even more effective in practice. Thanks to the European Erasmus+ programme, a project like WeSea can bring together complementary expertise from professionals working across different countries and disciplines, and within diverse ecosystem contexts, all connected to seas and oceans. WeSea combines expertise in marine biology, oceanography, environmental education, strategic design, communication sciences and project coordination, bringing together experience from France, Spain and Türkiye, from both Mediterranean and Pacific locations.
✦ Different backgrounds and diverse approaches to raising awareness, but one shared challenge: making marine biodiversity more visible and more legible so that it can fascinate and ultimately be respected. → Discover the people who bring WeSea to life: HORBE, CIE.NC, Fundación CRAM and DYKD. WeSea is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme.
Arnau Martínez, CRAM | Spain
Biologist, diver and environmental educator at the CRAM Foundation, Arnau works at the intersection of marine science, conservation and knowledge transfer. He contributes to specialised training on marine fauna, including CRAM’s courses on sharks and rays, cetaceans, sea turtles and seabirds, combining biology, conservation and environmental education. Within WeSea, he brings experience in marine education, knowledge transfer and public engagement.
Carole Bernard, CIE.NC | New Caledonia
Marine biologist, Carole is Director General of CIE.NC. Her career in New Caledonia, a global biodiversity hotspot, combines scientific research at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) with fifteen years of teaching, shaping an approach deeply rooted in the territory’s ecological and cultural challenges. Within WeSea, she brings expertise in coral ecosystems in island environments, environmental education, and the adaptation of tools to local cultural contexts.
Elizabeth Bengil, DYKD | Türkiye
Marine biologist and specialist in cartilaginous fishes, Elizabeth has been conducting research for more than fifteen years on sharks, rays, threatened species and their habitats. A researcher and coordinator of numerous national and international projects, she combines scientific expertise, conservation and public awareness. Within WeSea, she brings extensive experience in applied research and international scientific cooperation, supporting the transition from knowledge to action.
Maria del Peso, HORBE | France
Co-founder and CEO of HORBE, Maria supports organisations in transforming their business models and concretely implementing ecological and social transition strategies. Her approach combines strategic vision, change management, stakeholder engagement and impact measurement. As one of the initiators of the WeSea project at HORBE, Maria oversees the project’s overall coherence, evaluation, administrative and financial management, as well as partner coordination.
Mathieu Bastide, HORBE | France
Strategic designer and creative director, Mathieu works to optimise the transfer of knowledge related to the challenges of the ecological transition. In parallel, he is conducting a research project in Information and Communication Sciences on how organisations perceive their impact on the conditions that sustain habitability. As one of the initiators of the WeSea project at HORBE, Mathieu leads communication, the conception and design of deliverables, project management and collaborative tools.
Ulaşcan Kayataş, DYKD | Türkiye
Marine biologist, diver and field officer, Ulaşcan works on marine biodiversity, coral restoration and the study of biological reference collections. He has delivered more than 30 awareness-raising sessions across Türkiye and presented DYKD’s coral conservation work at Reef Futures in Mexico in 2024. Within WeSea, he brings strong field experience at the intersection of ecological restoration, marine conservation and public education.
Yeşim Ayar, DYKD | Türkiye
Marine biologist, oceanographer and CMAS three-star diver, Yeşim holds a Master’s degree in Oceanography from the METU Institute of Marine Sciences. Her work focuses in particular on carbon chemistry, groundwater inputs, acidification and coastal ecosystem dynamics, with extensive experience in field campaigns and laboratory analysis. Within WeSea, she brings the ability to connect scientific data, field observation and concrete marine conservation challenges.
