A contribution to the ocean science decade
A new interdisciplinary project to create research leaders for marine sustainability is a prime part of the University of Bergen鈥檚 engagement with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
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鈥淪haping European Research leaders for Marine Sustainability (SEAS) is a project that builds on the University of Bergen鈥檚 position as Norway鈥檚 leading marine university,鈥� says Marine Director聽Amund Maage, 鈥渁nd by creating a project like this we are also following up on our commitments on SDG14, Life below water.鈥�
Recently, the university sent an application to the EU鈥檚 COFUND programme to secure funding for the interdisciplinary SEAS programme, which aims to provide 37 positions for postdoctoral fellows with the declared goal of creating the European research leaders in marine sustainability for the future.
- 鲍笔顿础罢贰!听This project has received funding from the European Union鈥檚 Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie grant agreement No 101034309.
Leadership in ocean science
The marine director is referring to the appointment by United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) of the University of Bergen to be its Hub institution for SDG14 and ocean science and education. The university has also been appointed by the International Association of Universities (IAU) to lead the IAU SDG14 Cluster, comprising of 10 world leading universities from all continents in ocean science and education.
鈥淎ll seven faculties at the university are involved with the SEAS application with the aim of providing 37 positions to postdoctoral fellows across a number of disciplines,鈥� says Maage, 鈥渨hereas it鈥檚 easy to think of marine research as being connected with the natural sciences, the 2030 Agenda presents an urgent need for social sciences, humanities, psychology, law studies, the arts and medicine to be involved to provide research-based knowledge for a sustainable ocean.鈥�
The interdisciplinary approach aiming to create science recommendation to policymakers is among the features in SEAS.
鈥淥ne aim of SEAS is to enable a new generation of researchers to be equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to create interaction and collaboration across professional, cultural, technological and sectoral boundaries,鈥� says Maage.
Tie-in with ocean science decade
The project ties in with the University of Bergen鈥檚 support for the聽, as initiated by IOC-UNESCO.
鈥淭he project is designed to fit in with the goals of the ocean science decade,鈥� says Marine Dean聽Nils Gunnar Kvamst酶, 鈥渂uilding on previous research at the University of Bergen and our commitments with UNAI and IAU as well as interacting with the ongoing and inbuilt processes of the 2030 Agenda.鈥�
He points in particular to the 2030 Agenda鈥檚 maturing targets set for 2020, 2025 and, finally, 2030, as particularly important for the global scientific community to address.
鈥淗aving long been leading on marine science in Norway and having taken a global lead in science advice addressing the goals, sub goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, it is only natural for us to apply for funding on a project creating future science leaders in marine sustainability,鈥� says Kvamst酶.
Already, University of Bergen researchers are providing policymakers with science-based knowledge. SEAS will strengthen the university鈥檚 science diplomacy efforts further.
鈥淪cientists must become even more active to provide the necessary knowledge to aid the implementation of SDG14 targets set in the 2030 Agenda. The ocean cannot wait for the solutions of the future.鈥�
FACTS
COFUND
- Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes聽(COFUND) is part of the EU鈥檚 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions.
- COFUND provides organisations with additional financial support for their own researcher training and career development programmes.
- The extra funds are available for new or existing schemes for聽training researchers abroad and across various sectors.
- COFUND supports聽doctoral programmes聽for聽PhD candidates, as well as聽fellowship programmes聽for聽experienced researchers.
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