Dr. Elena Bennett is Professor and Canada Research Chair of Sustainability Science at McGill University

COASTAL TRANSITIONS III

RE-IMAGINING COASTAL TRANSITIONS: DIVERSE BLUE ECONOMIES

November 8th to 10th, 2023

Conference Organizers:

C. Patrick Heidkamp, Ph.D.; Southern Connecticut State University; heidkampc1@southernct.edu

Michaela Garland; University of Connecticut; michaela.garland@uconn.edu

Nat Trumbull, Ph.D.; University of Connecticut; trumbull@uconn.edu

Syma Ebbin, Ph.D.; University of Connecticut; syma.ebbin@uconn.edu

John Morrissey, Ph.D., Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick; john.morrissey@mic.ul.ie

Description/Rationale:

We are facing a crucial 10-year period for sustainability, with coastal communities on the ‘front-line’ of climate response and adaption. The aim of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development aims is to “reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the Ocean” (UNESCO 2021). The Blue Economy — now widely accepted and endorsed by stakeholders from governments, industry and civil society — is seen as a promising way towards coastal sustainability and resilience. But, the Blue Economy narrative put forth by many stakeholders is still primarily focused on a growth oriented capitalist model, albeit ‘seasoned’ with a dose of sustainability.

This conference aims to reimagine the Blue Economy, not as a business-as-usual approach to economic development, but as an innovative framework that recognizes the diversity of economies, facilitates energized transdisciplinary dialogue and enables multi-stakeholder activation and empowerment in order to radically reframe coastal and marine economies.

“The post-Covid 19 recovery represents a once-in-a generation opportunity to radically reframe coastal and marine economies. The timing has never been more favorable, or indeed more critical, to urgently design, plan and deliver sustainable, innovative, and Just Blue Economies.”[Heidkamp, Garland, Morrissey, Germond-Duret & Kokorsch 2022]

Sub Themes:

We welcome theoretical and methodological as well as empirical or case study contributions related (but not limited) to the following sub-themes:

• Justice and the Blue Economy (Blue Justice, Energy Justice, Food Justice, Climate Justice, etc.)

• Politicization and territorialization of Blue Economy spaces (security, safety and regulatory enforcement)

• Sustainable Prosperity and the Blue Economy - Employment, job creation, and poverty eradication

• Transdisciplinarity and/or Real Laboratories in the Blue Economy

• Sustainability Discourses of the Blue Economy (transformations, transitions; blue washing and extractivism)

• Socio-cultural dimensions of Diverse Blue Economies (social capital, cultural capital, adaptive capacity, etc.)

• Indigenous paradigms and traditional ecological knowledge of diverse Blue Economies

• The role of ocean/maritime clusters in fostering a just and sustainable Blue Economy

• Innovations in the Blue Economy – policy, practice, entrepreneurship and inclusion

• Evaluation and assessment of Blue Economy initiatives

• Communicating and representing diverse Blue Economies

• Participatory governance and stakeholder integration in Blue Economy decision making

• New academic practices and performances for the Blue Economy

• Smart shipping, ports, green ports, transportation, and global connectivity

• Science, policy, and practice interactions of Blue Economies (ocean-based climate solutions)

www.coastaltransitions.org

COASTAL TRANSITIONS III

RE-IMAGINING COASTAL TRANSITIONS: DIVERSE BLUE ECONOMIES

November 8th to 10th, 2023

Conference Organizers:

C. Patrick Heidkamp, Ph.D.; Southern Connecticut State University; heidkampc1@southernct.edu

Michaela Garland; University of Connecticut; michaela.garland@uconn.edu

Nat Trumbull, Ph.D.; University of Connecticut; trumbull@uconn.edu

Syma Ebbin, Ph.D.; University of Connecticut; syma.ebbin@uconn.edu

John Morrissey, Ph.D., Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick; john.morrissey@mic.ul.ie

Description/Rationale:

We are facing a crucial 10-year period for sustainability, with coastal communities on the ‘front-line’ of climate response and adaption. The aim of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development aims is to “reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the Ocean” (UNESCO 2021). The Blue Economy — now widely accepted and endorsed by stakeholders from governments, industry and civil society — is seen as a promising way towards coastal sustainability and resilience. But, the Blue Economy narrative put forth by many stakeholders is still primarily focused on a growth oriented capitalist model, albeit ‘seasoned’ with a dose of sustainability.

This conference aims to reimagine the Blue Economy, not as a business-as-usual approach to economic development, but as an innovative framework that recognizes the diversity of economies, facilitates energized transdisciplinary dialogue and enables multi-stakeholder activation and empowerment in order to radically reframe coastal and marine economies.

“The post-Covid 19 recovery represents a once-in-a generation opportunity to radically reframe coastal and marine economies. The timing has never been more favorable, or indeed more critical, to urgently design, plan and deliver sustainable, innovative, and Just Blue Economies.”[Heidkamp, Garland, Morrissey, Germond-Duret & Kokorsch 2022]

Sub Themes:

We welcome theoretical and methodological as well as empirical or case study contributions related (but not limited) to the following sub-themes:

• Justice and the Blue Economy (Blue Justice, Energy Justice, Food Justice, Climate Justice, etc.)

• Politicization and territorialization of Blue Economy spaces (security, safety and regulatory enforcement)

• Sustainable Prosperity and the Blue Economy - Employment, job creation, and poverty eradication

• Transdisciplinarity and/or Real Laboratories in the Blue Economy

• Sustainability Discourses of the Blue Economy (transformations, transitions; blue washing and extractivism)

• Socio-cultural dimensions of Diverse Blue Economies (social capital, cultural capital, adaptive capacity, etc.)

• Indigenous paradigms and traditional ecological knowledge of diverse Blue Economies

• The role of ocean/maritime clusters in fostering a just and sustainable Blue Economy

• Innovations in the Blue Economy – policy, practice, entrepreneurship and inclusion

• Evaluation and assessment of Blue Economy initiatives

• Communicating and representing diverse Blue Economies

• Participatory governance and stakeholder integration in Blue Economy decision making

• New academic practices and performances for the Blue Economy

• Smart shipping, ports, green ports, transportation, and global connectivity

• Science, policy, and practice interactions of Blue Economies (ocean-based climate solutions)

www.coastaltransitions.org

Geography Graduate Studies Virtual Open House

Noon to 1:00PM EST, November 17, 2023

The Virtual Open House is now closed.  Thank you for your interest in the graduate program here at UConn.