The University of Plymouth, through its Marine Institute, has signed a voluntary commitment to use its world-leading research and teaching to support the implementation of one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The Marine Institute and Centre for Marine Conservation and Policy Research (MarCoPol) were represented at The Ocean Conference, held at the UN headquarters in New York from June 5-9, 2017.
Coinciding with World Oceans Day, it aimed to act as a game changer reversing the decline in the health of our oceans, with particular focus on SDG 14, which seeks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
The University has committed to ensuring 250 students per year successfully complete one of the University’s marine degree programmes while its researchers will aim to publish 30 peer reviewed publications per year linked to the delivery of the SDG 14.
More specifically, the Centre for Marine Conservation and Policy Research will seek to have 40 undergraduate and at least 10 postgraduate students per year specialising in topics closely linked to marine conservation and the associated policy.
And the University will also pursue a number of high level interactions with policy makers and managers, integrating science into policy and practice for SDG 14.
The University is renowned globally as a centre of marine expertise, with world-leading experts in fields including marine conservation, marine pollution, ocean acidification, coastal engineering and coastal policy.
Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the Marine Institute at the University, said:
“Signing up to support this United Nations initiative perfectly complements our existing research and teaching goals, particularly in marine sustainability, conservation and policy. It also reinforces our commitment to sharing our knowledge and expertise nationally and internationally, with a view to driving the debate on global marine and maritime policy.”
Representing 3000 staff, researchers and students, the Marine Institute is the first and largest such institute in the UK. It provides the external portal to the University’s extensive pool of world-leading experts and state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to understand the relationship between the way we live, the seas that surround us and the development of sustainable policy solutions.
The aim of the Centre for Marine Conservation and Policy Research is to provide a sound scientific, social, legal and economic basis for improved policy and management for the sustainable use and protection of the marine and coastal environment.
