Leopoldo Gerhardinger joins the Steering Committee of the Decade Coordination Office "Connecting People and Ocean"
Our ICTA-UAB postdoctoral fellow Leopoldo Cavaleri Gerhardinger has recently been appointed to the Steering Committee of the UN Decade Coordination Office "Connecting People and Ocean". He has also been nominated as a Fellow of the International Science Council (ISC).
The United Nations General Assembly has declared the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade, 2021-2030), which aims to harness the power of ocean knowledge to develop science-based solutions. Ten challenges have been identified for the Decade. Crucially, Challenge 10 seeks to fundamentally transform humanity's relationship with the ocean, highlighting the enabling role of ocean literacy as a key driver for the success of the Ocean Decade as a whole.
Leopoldo Gerhardinger, a member of the ERC-TRADITION project and the EarlyFoods research group, will join the Steering Committee of the UN Decade Coordination Office (DCO). Hosted by the Project Office of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO Regional, the DCO aims to revolutionise our relationship with the ocean by improving ocean literacy, while at the same time increasing understanding of the cultural and social value of the ocean.
Leopoldo Gerhardinger is a concerned Postdoctoral Research Fellow working on topics ranging from marine ecology and ethnoecology to, most recently, the theory and practice of ocean governance. He is also actively involved in building marine learning networks and media and information ocean literacy (Educommunication) programmes for transformed governance and healthier oceans.
The IOC strongly believes that Leopoldo Cavaleri Gerhardinger's expertise and contributions will be invaluable to its mission. By joining the Committee, Gerhardinger will have a unique opportunity to shape research and initiatives, contribute to policy-making and influence within the scientific community and beyond. This collaboration would allow him to work closely with a diverse group of esteemed experts, thereby enhancing his own visibility and potentially opening up new avenues for advancing ocean literacy on a global scale. His participation would not only benefit the IOC/UNESCO, but also have a profound impact on a wider community.
ISC fellow
Gerhardinger is also one of 100 new Fellows appointed by the International Science Council (ISC) in recognition of outstanding contributions to the promotion of science as a global public good. The Fellowship is the highest honour an individual can receive from the International Science Council (ISC). Together with the 123 individuals appointed in 2022, the new ISC Fellows will support the Council in its mission at a critical moment for science and the sustainability of science as we enter the UN International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD) in 2024.
The new Fellows include eminent social and natural scientists, engineers and thought leaders who have made significant contributions to science and society. They come from different countries and regions, disciplines, sectors and career stages.