23 January 2017: One of the United States of America’s leading thinkers in ocean health and an advisor to former US President Barack Obama will deliver a dual message of urgency and hope about the world’s oceans at the University of Canberra TOMORROW.
Distinguished Professor in Marine Studies at Oregon State University, Jane Lubchenco, will highlight some of the science-based solutions to problems affecting the one, connected ocean around the world during the University’s Institute for Applied Ecology 2017 Krebs Lecture.
The renowned academic will discuss that although there are very serious problems such as ecosystem collapse, coral bleaching and overfishing, the situation is far from hopeless.
“Solutions to seemingly intractable problems are providing glimmers of hope. The challenge is to understand why certain solutions are working, then to replicate and scale them up to have global impact,” Professor Lubchenco said.
“A common thread across these solutions is a change in incentives for the key actors. If economic and social incentives can be aligned with conservation, there can be powerful outcomes,” she said. “We seek proven, science-based solutions that work in the North Atlantic as easily as they can in the Pacific.
“I think it’s time to set aside the doom and gloom approach when thinking about our ocean and focus instead on replicating and scaling existing solutions as well as developing new ones. Science is needed now as never before.
“The world can’t afford to let these problems run away from us, with so many people depending on our seas for their life and livelihood.”
Professor Lubchenco served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US from 2009-2013.
The University’s annual Krebs Lecture is dedicated to Professor Charles Krebs for his extraordinary contribution to our understanding and appreciation of our natural world.
Past speakers include former federal Liberal Party leader Dr John Hewson AM, Environment and Education Minister Peter Garrett AM, and internationally renowned environmentalist and author Professor Tim Flannery.
WHAT: Enough of the doom and gloom: holistic approaches bring hope for people and the ocean by Professor Jane Lubchenco – University of Canberra Institute for Applied Ecology’s 2017 Krebs Lecture
WHEN: Tuesday 24 January, 6.30pm - 7.30pm
WHERE: Ann Harding Conference Centre, Building 24, University of Canberra.
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362
Marcus Butler: 0438 447 810