IOF joins the Nippon Foundation’s Ocean Nexus Center

The Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia is excited to announce a research partnership with The Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center, a new interdisciplinary research group that studies changes, responses and solutions to societal issues that emerge in relationship with the oceans.

To date, researchers from 20 other universities from around the world, in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Malaysia, and more, have already signed on to new interdisciplinary projects with Ocean Nexus. Project topics will include ocean acidification adaptation, sustainable development of oceans, ocean sovereignty for island nations, and gender in ocean governance.

“This is an evolution of our longstanding relationship with the Nippon Foundation, and we are proud to be part of this research partnership,” said Dr. Evgeny Pakhomov, professor and Director of the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. “Ocean Nexus research at IOF will focus on marine pollution and ocean acidification, and on social and economic measures related to the ‘Blue Economy’.”

Researchers already know that environmental changes, such as pollution and ocean acidification, can cause health and economic impacts on communities. But scientists and decision-makers still do not have all of the information to implement solutions that take into account those most in need. The ‘Blue Economy’ or sustainable ocean economy, which seeks to harness rising interest in economic expansion in ocean sectors to ensure social equity and benefits come to those who need them most, and who live in coastal areas being developed.

“The Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries is a world leader in ocean science, and with Ocean Nexus we will be helping take the lead on new research themes for policies like the Blue Economy, which will shape our future oceans,” said Dr. Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor, a Research Associate at the IOF and Deputy Director of Ocean Nexus at UBC. “The oceans have the capacity to provide so much more for coastal communities and we want to pinpoint what the real issues are and how we can best help.”

“Ocean Nexus exists to bridge the gap between decision makers, policy makers and the communities most affected and dependent on the oceans,” said Yoshitaka Ota, the Center’s director and a research assistant professor in UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. “This is a chance to do something bold and really push the boundaries of understanding our relationship with oceans, and that’s what I’m excited to do.”

Based on the philosophy of passing on sustainable oceans to future generations, The Nippon Foundation of Tokyo has been working for over three decades with governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and research institutions to foster 1,430 ocean professionals from 150 countries.

“The sustenance of humanity depends on our mother ocean,” said Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of The Nippon Foundation. “I am excited that the next generation of thought leaders will be emerging from this center to share their research findings to guide the world toward ocean sustainability.”

The central Ocean Nexus Center will be housed in University of Washington’s EarthLab, an institute established in 2015 to connect UW research with community partners to discover equitable solutions to our most complex environmental challenges.

For more information, contact Dr. Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor, a.cisneros [at] fisheries-2023.sites.olt.ubc.ca

Tags: Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor, Blue economy, Nereus Program, Nippon Foundation, Ocean Nexus, pollution