Call for Proposals: Transdisciplinary Research for Ocean Sustainability

The Belmont Forum call for proposals on “Transdisciplinary Research for Ocean Sustainability”, in collaboration with Future Earth and JPI Oceans, aims to bring together researchers and other expertise to innovate solutions to advance sustainable use of the ocean and minimize the effects of climate change. The deadline for project pre-registration is 31 January 2019.

To address the complex challenges facing the ocean, there is a need for integrated, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approaches. Research consortia should bring together natural and social sciences and other societal partners, including the private sector, to co-design, co-develop and co-implement these efforts.

For research consortia interested in proposing projects, the World Ocean Council (WOC) provides a unique private sector partner focused on global multi-industry leadership, collaboration and action for ocean science and sustainable development.

The WOC brings the potential to engage leadership companies as part of research teams and a global network of 35,000 ocean industry stakeholders from around the world and across the sectors.

The Belmont Forum invites research consortia to address one or both of the following topics:

Topic 1 – Pathways towards sustainable and equitable use of oceans

This topic focuses on the environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of living and non-living resource extraction (e.g. fisheries, aquaculture, dredging, mining of sand and minerals), and non-extractive industries (e.g. shipping, tourism). Research in this area should address the impacts of economic activities on ecosystems, human societies including human health and well-being, cultures and economies, as well as the capacities of social systems to respond to these impacts.

Topic 2 – Accounting for and minimizing impacts of global change

Sustainably using the ocean depends on an understanding of the multi-scale changes in ocean systems, and the additive or synergistic effects of the multiple causes of these changes. Applications addressing this topic should include research on the interactions between stressors, such as climate change, ocean acidification, pollution, deoxygenation and food scarcity; biological processes such as range shifts and biodiversity changes; and ocean dynamics, such as circulation, temperature and sea level changes.

This call endeavors to support medium-sized research projects with 3 to 4 years’ duration. Development of research consortia, supported financially by at least three participating partner agencies established in three different countries, is a key criterion. Global geographic diversity to increase the scalability and applicability of project outcomes is encouraged.

Proposal submission will occur in two steps: 1) Mandatory pre-registration of projects (via the Belmont Forum application portal), and 2) Submission of invited full proposals.

For further details, please click here.

Research consortia interested in ensuring a strong private sector partner and component to their proposals are encouraged to contact the WOC at info@oceancouncil.org.