It was a fantastic opportunity to meet the students in-person, renew acquaintances with our Island Innovation friends and network with an incredible group of professionals, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and students passionate about creating a more sustainable future for island communities.

There were several inspiring key-note addresses throughout the week from Dennis King, Premier, PEI; Steven Myers Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, PEI, and several more excellent interventions with a #SIDS focus including the Honourable Terence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis; James Michel, Former President of the Republic of Seychelles; Kerryan James, Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy, Grenada & Mike Eman, Former Prime Minister of Aruba.

Our Shared Ocean participated in a number of events on behalf of IrishAid, Marine Institute which afforded the programme great coverage and significant net-working opportunities. The Island Studies Institute at Uni of PEI hosted local and international students for a sustainable practices workshop and Programme Manageer David O’Sullivan was part of a panel-discussion that offered invaluable insights into the growing field of sustainability and the diverse career opportunities therein. The panel also included Steven Myers, James Ellsmoor 🏝️ CEO Island Innovation, Dr. GALE T C RIGOBERT , CEO of Propel Ltd & former Government Minister of St. Lucia. We discussed why collaboration between researchers is critical and leads to effective knowledge transfer, mutually understanding, capacity building and legacy. I highlighted how our bespoke SIDS Sustainable Development course will enhance career opportunities and hopefully remove barriers to the students as they embark on their studies.

David moderated a further discussion ‘Promoting Innovation for Climate Adaptation on Islands’ between Aitazaz A Farooque, PhD, P.Eng Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation Ilive Peltier Educator & Author and Kathleen B. Senior Advisor, Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, PEI. Discussions centered on how, as we move away from Climate Mitigation towards Climate Adaptation, we have to change how we respond. The session showcased innovative adaptation strategies being deployed across different island regions, highlighting their effectiveness, scalability, and replicability. A further panel ‘Navigating the Blue Economy: Empowering Island Communities for Sustainable Oceans’ provided an opportunity to introduce the influential role Marine Institute has taken in developing Irelands Blue Economy through various initiatives within Fisheries, Seabed Mapping, Port Development, Smart Bay and Marine Spatial Planning. The panel included Derek Ellis & Camilo M. Botero.

However, my highlight was Perspectives from Emerging Researchers: Advancing Sustainable Solutions for Islands where I had the opportunity to introduce our international students to the stage as they shared their own perspectives on enabling conditions and persisting barriers to integrating early-career research into the development of solutions for islands. The event was co-moderated with the excellent Jenelle Maillet Net Zero Project Officer, Government of Prince Edward Island.

It was a busy but extremely productive week and a pleasure to meet so many inspirational individuals, all fully committed to change, innovation and reimaging how we interact with our fragile planet and environment. I look forward to onward contact and collaboration and thank you to our hosts Island Innovation.

You can find a number of interviews Our Shared ocean conducted with GSIS delegates on the Marine Institute YouTube Channel.

Ireland has a longstanding record of cooperation and friendship with Small Island Developing States – in particular through the United Nations system. In 2019 Ireland became one of the first countries in the world to develop a bespoke national Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This provided a framework to strengthen cooperation and increase our action to support SIDS in highlighting and responding to the disproportionate impact of climate change. Within this first strategy was a commitment to develop research partnerships between Ireland and the SIDS and led directly to Our Shared Ocean.

Ireland’s Second Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) provides a framework for long-term and ambitious engagement with SIDS, building on the achievements of the 2019 strategy. It was prepared in consultation with SIDS’ representatives to ensure that it reflects their perspectives and priorities for the next phase of this partnership.

It reflects Ireland’s commitment to a long-term and ambitious partnership with our fellow islanders and is structured around an Action Plan with commitments across four interlinking pillars, Building our Partnership; Climate and Oceans; Capacity & Advocacy.

David O’Sullivan, Programme Manager joined a panel of experts on behalf of Marine Institute and Irish Aid to discuss ‘Translating the Ocean Decade to Workable Solutions for Island States and Sub-National Regions’ and introduced our ambition to build research partnerships between Ireland and Small Island Developing States.

The summit is an important platform for islands, big and small, around the world to discuss the environmental and economic issues specific to ocean states, share knowledge and promote collaboration. For countries like Ireland, it’s an opportunity to learn about the real issues facing islanders around the world but also one where we can highlight our research infrastructure and ambition to build collaborative research partnerships.

Island Innovation is a specialist agency that cultivates a global network of island stakeholders, policy-makers, NGOs, private companies and sustainability experts to empower island communities. I encourage you to tune in where possible to this week-long event which offers a comprehensive list of speakers and a packed agenda to both inform and inspire.

The multi-annual collaboration funded by Irish Aid and administered by the Marine Institute, will provide €3.8 million over the next five years to facilitate partnerships on ocean-related issues.

Our Shared Ocean is part of Ireland’s response to the challenges facing many SIDS, recognising that our fellow islanders are on the front line of the impact of climate change and vulnerable, in particular, to sea-level rise and extreme weather events. It also recognises the important role of SIDS in relation to global ocean governance and their capacity to develop innovative responses to these challenges. The programme, the first of its kind by Ireland to engage strategically with developing island states, aims to leverage existing national marine research capabilities and expertise to empower the SIDS with the skills and opportunity to tackle local marine issues.

Following an extensive stakeholder consultation which included conversations with representatives and research scientists in over 20 countries from the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, the project team now invite joint research applications (Irish and SIDS partners) to develop MSc scholarships, Research Fellowships or Project Awards. Also on offer are Travel and Mobility Grants to facilitate eligible SIDS student travel, and participation, in international conferences and workshops. All the calls are available through the Marine Institute website here.

Our Shared Ocean research topics reflect stakeholder feedback and are focussed on the most relevant challenges and opportunities facing our Oceans today. These include, but are not limited to, Blue Carbon, Coastal Engineering, Climate Resilience, Coastal and Marine Management, Ocean Economy, Digital Technology, and Marine Education & Communication. The grants are intended to provide research training opportunities for scientists in oceanography, marine engineering and related marine science, social science and humanities disciplines. The Our Shared Ocean Team can also discuss your research and how it addresses the challenges identified in the programme. Contact oursharedocean@marine.ie or @OurSharedOcean on Twitter for more information.

Minister for International Development and Diaspora Sean Fleming T.D. said: “Our Shared Ocean reflects Ireland’s commitment to deepening our partnership with Small Island Development States and ensuring we are championing responses to the issues they face. This important programme builds strategic research partnerships between Ireland and Small Island Developing States on issues related to oceans.”

Paul Connolly, CEO, Marine Institute: “Without a shared understanding of the challenges facing the marine environment, there cannot be shared solutions. We are privileged to have spoken to inspiring scientists around the world, from multiple research disciplines, who are making a real difference to how we think about, use and manage our shared ocean space on a local and regional scale. We have listened to these critical ocean stakeholders, to become aware of the unique set of environmental and economic pressures these small islands face, but more importantly to hear their proposed solutions. We are confident our call topics match that ambition.”