How can we use the rich resources of the ocean, while also protecting it?
That question is at the heart of the Center for the Blue Economy (CBE), whose mission is to provide economic and policy analysis that supports the development of a robust and equitable blue economy for the 21st century.
“Addressing global warming calls for all of us to think and work together in new ways, across disciplines and in ways that balance generating wealth and caring for the ocean for longtime sustainability,” said the CBE’s director, Jason Scorse.
This course is for professionals in any field who have an interest in or responsibility for ocean and coastal policy, whether policymakers, regulators, fishers, scientists, technologists, or financiers.
The three- to five-hour self-paced online course is taught by Dr. Charles Colgan, the director of research at the Center for the Blue Economy and editor in chief of the Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics.
“Our goal is to increase your capacity to shape the blue economy,” said Colgan. “This course will orient you to the blue economy and lay a foundation for deeper learning on more specialized topics.”
The World Bank defines the blue economy as “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.” When the CBE was founded in 2011, few people were measuring the value of the blue economy – which was valued at $432.4 billion in 2021. The ocean was often an afterthought in most environmental advocacy, despite its critical role in our ecosystems and economy. Thanks to the center’s research and advocacy, the U.S. government now measures and publishes a national marine economy satellite account annually, and the blue economy is reflected in major climate change legislation, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and Biden’s Ocean Climate Action Plan.
“In times of accelerating change, expert practitioners who are active in their fields have invaluable insights to share,” said Patricia Szasz, the dean of Middlebury Institute Online. “We want more people, working across a range of roles, to be able to access the incredible knowledge and learning that our master’s students have through these short courses.”
The Institute has been expanding its short courses, providing timely and accessible trainings drawing on the deep expertise of Institute faculty in intercultural communication, sustainability, and global security.
The course is currently available at a discounted price of $59 — learn more and register.
| by Mark C. Anderson
The Center for the Blue Economy’s collaboration on a recent study of a decade-long project to renew wetlands in Washington shines light on how healthy coastal habitat drive the economy, sequester carbon and reduce flooding.
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The Fifth National Climate Assessment is the US Government’s preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses. It is a congressionally mandated interagency effort that provides the scientific foundation to support informed decision-making across the United States. Dr. Charles Colgan, Director of Research at the Center for the Blue Economy co-authored Chapter 10: Ocean Ecosystems and Marine Resources.
| by Nadia Pshonyak
This semester more than eighty Middlebury Institute students are participating in our distinguished semester-long experiential learning and practicum courses. Students are working around the globe with organizations making a positive impact in various fields while continuing their studies here at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
