Welcoming Harvard University scholars to UWA and the Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean

This week marked the beginning of an exciting visit by Professor Christopher Golden and two of his post-doctoral researchers, Dr Jessica Zamborain Mason and Dr Laura Elsler, to the University of Western Australia (UWA). This visit anchors the development of new collaborations between researchers from the Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean initiative at UWA and the renowned Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dirk Zeller, Professor of Marine Conservation and Director of the Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean at UWA, and Christopher Golden, Professor of Nutrition and Planetary Health at the Harvard University School of Public Health secured a 2023 UWA Research Collaboration Award to support the visit, which includes a Master Class workshop for graduate students, Early Career Researchers and interested scholars, and a Public Lecture for the wider community.

In addition, this visit is offering a valuable opportunity to exchange research ideas and develop forward-looking project ideas, thereby expanding the reach and utility of the Aquatic Food Composition Database (AFCD) and the global fisheries data and research portfolio of the Sea Around Us. It also serves as a platform for UWA PhD student Vania Andreoli and MSc student Aryan Kothari, under the guidance of Professors Dirk Zeller and Jessica Meeuwig, to acquire advanced training and insights into constructing and utilizing nutritional databases for their seafood nutritional profile research.

If you have an interest in delving deeper into the significance of aquatic food nutrition within the context of building healthier and more sustainable global food systems, I highly recommend reading the paper titled "Aquatic Food to Nourish Nations," authored by Christopher Golden and colleagues. Professor Golden specializes in ecology and epidemiology, with a particular interest in understanding the intricate relationship between ecosystem services and human health, especially in the face of global biodiversity loss. His extensive research experience spans Madagascar and other regions, where he investigates how communities rely on natural resources for their well-being. Furthermore, his research encompasses the links between wildlife consumption, micronutrient deficiencies, botanical ethnomedicines, and diseases like malaria, all in the context of biodiversity decline and land use changes.

Dr Jessica Zamborain-Mason is the team's interdisciplinary quantitative marine scientist, dedicated to advancing ecological, social, and economic sustainability in global fisheries. Her work involves blending statistical and ecological models with empirical observational data to deepen our understanding of human-environment interactions and resource management. Jessica's research focuses on sustainable reference points, fisheries management from various socio-ecological angles, and the impact of environmental and socio-economic changes.

Dr Laura Elsler brings her expertise as a social-ecological modeler to the team's efforts, with a focus on global nutrition vulnerability and the nutritional implications of marine governance and seafood trade. Her skills in quantitative data analysis and field research enable her to uncover the complex social and governance factors that influence the sustainable use of marine environments. Laura is deeply committed to promoting equity within the ocean sector, addressing issues such as intersectionality, gender, and decolonization.

This diverse range of expertise and commitment to engage in transformative research will deliver innovative studies that play a vital role in advancing sustainable access to aquatic food, foster the well-being of communities and individuals, and contribute to a healthier world. Watch this space for upcoming news!

On behalf of the Sea Around Us – Indian Ocean we would like to express our appreciation to Dr James Arvanitakis, the Director of the Forrest Research Foundation, and his team for hosting our guests for the week at wonderful Forrest Hall, and for providing an enaging and enjoyable welcome drinks event early this week.  

Posted by: Shannon Barrie on the 6th September 2023