SDGs associated

Bridging Academia and Action: Virtual Side Event on SDG 14

As part of the UN Ocean Conference, IAU and partners organised an online event discussing how to advance partnerships, knowledge sharing, and Ocean Literacy. Watch the recording now!

Bridging Academia and Action: Advancing Partnerships for SDG 14, Knowledge-sharing, and Ocean Literacy

Friday 13 June, 2 - 3.30 pm

As part of the official side events around the UN Ocean Conference 2025, IAU, the University of Bergen, the University of the West Indies, the International Science Council and other partners organised an online event bringing together voices from higher education, science and other key partners for advancing SDG 14: Life Below Water.

Higher Education stakeholders are driving meaningful progress toward SDG 14 by fostering collaboration between academia, policymakers, industry, and civil society. At Universities, teaching, research, community engagement are areas aligned to Ocean Decade Actions. In this online discussion, international experts will present how universities are building capacity and sharing knowledge to enhance ocean literacy and partnerships, while making use of research to shape the future of ocean science education. Leading experts will present innovative educational approaches and identify key tools to strengthen ocean sustainability efforts. They will also explore how to leverage the Ocean Decade and its initiatives to build a global network of ocean knowledge, catalyzing action, and accelerating impact.

Organised by the International Association of Universities with the University of Bergen, University of the West Indies, University of Cape Town, Ocean University of China, International Science Council (ISC), University of Costa Rica, OceanX.

Speakers

Opening words: Prof. Sigrunn Eliassen, Vice-dean for education, University of Bergen, Norway
Prof. Liang Yantao, Professor, Ocean University China
Dr. Awnesh Singh, Associate Professor and Acting Director of the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific and UNOC3 expert group, ISC
Dr. Louise Gammage, Researcher, University of Cape Town, South Africa (slides here)
Dr. Deborah Villarroel-Lamb, Lecturer in Coastal Zone Engineering & Management, University of the West Indies 
Mattie Rodrigue, Science Programme Director, OceanX
Closing Words: Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General, International Association of Universities (IAU), France/global
Moderators: Øyvind Fiksen, Marine Dean, University of Bergen, Norway, and Isabel Toman