The southern gap in ocean microbiome science

The ocean microbiome is at the forefront of science, and although most of the global ocean lies in the southern hemisphere, research efforts have historically been concentrated in the northern hemisphere, leaving important southern regions underexplored. Here, we address this geographic gap in ocean microbiome research, including sampling efforts, access to technology, and expert human resources. We showcase north–south and south-south collaborations and discuss the main challenges posed by parachute research, and collective efforts to avoid it and achieve shared capacity, equitable access to knowledge, and shared benefits. Our recommendations emphasize the importance of actively involving students and researchers from low- and middle-income countries from the global south in co-designing global ocean microbiome research.