Students from the Master’s in Oceanography at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) took part today in a session at the facilities of the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), aimed at showcasing the strategic role of this infrastructure and the wide range of professional opportunities offered by the marine-maritime sector.
During the event, the PLOCAN team presented participants with the diversity of professional profiles that make up the organization, highlighting the demand for specialists in areas such as oceanography, marine and oceanographic engineering, instrumentation and sensors, telecommunications, networks, energy, maintenance, operations, data management, software development, and geographic information systems, among others.
PLOCAN technicians also emphasized the relevance, within the marine-maritime sector and specifically at facilities like PLOCAN, of European and international project managers, experts in ocean policies, sustainability and marine environmental protection, and finance.
The students toured the onshore headquarters, where PLOCAN staff informed them about its infrastructures and services, both on land and on the offshore platform and test site, and delved into the projects currently being developed at the facilities.
“PLOCAN is an internationally renowned test bed, where companies and research centers can trial marine prototypes, conduct environmental studies, and develop innovative technologies in renewable energies, mariculture, ecosystem restoration, robotics, and ocean observation,” explained Alfredo Sosa, Head of the ICT area.
During the session, students learned about projects such as H2Verde and the development of digital twins to optimize the management of energy infrastructures and environmental monitoring using sensors and autonomous vehicles, both aerial and underwater.
The training and science outreach initiatives led by PLOCAN in collaboration with educational centers were also discussed, along with the organization of underwater robotics competitions to foster scientific and technological vocations among new generations.
“PLOCAN thus reaffirms its commitment to training, innovation, and knowledge transfer, consolidating itself as a meeting point between science, technology, and industry, and opening new job opportunities for future professionals in the marine-maritime field,” stated PLOCAN technician Rayco Morán.
Participants showed particular interest in professional pathways into the sector, specific training in emerging technologies such as underwater robotics and artificial intelligence, and specialization options through courses and collaborations with manufacturers and research centers.
