Pacific partnership deepens ties with island nations

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

With a shared vision to support the resilience and sustainability of some of the world’s most at-risk communities, the University of Newcastle (UON) is proud to partner with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to advance critical environmental research in the Pacific.

Pacific partnership deepens ties with island nations

Continuing the University’s commitment to the Pacific region, the partnership aims to deliver co-operative solutions to challenges faced by Pacific island people through the facilitation of in-country capacity building, and knowledge generation and sharing.

With Pacific island communities under increasing pressure from sea level rise, development, habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, climate change, and pollution, UON will support five targeted PhD scholarships for Pacific island nationals on:

  • Waste to Energy: Phycoremediation of Wastewaters with Simultaneous Generation of Energy
  • The Effects of Plastic Pollution on Marine Food Webs and Implications for Human Health
  • Developing Common Indicators for Environmental Governance
  • Bioremediation of Oil in WWII Wrecks
  • Monitoring and Modelling Tools for Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Pacific Islands

Carried out by caretakers of the land under the guidance of world-leading UON scholars, the projects will draw upon academic expertise to address key environmental threats in the Pacific region.

A Pacific island research ‘node’ will be located at SPREP’s headquarters in Apia, Samoa with activity coordinated through UON’s Global Impact Cluster for Energy, Resources, Food and Water. The node will support strategic research and training to promote skill development and innovation in the region.

The five PhD projects are currently open to Pacific island nationals, with a closing date of Tuesday 31 July 2018.

Download the Research Roadmap (PDF)


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