The “Island Lives, Ocean States” Interdisciplinary Project – lessons from the Pacific

This seminar is held at a critical moment when the Pacific becomes increasingly important for environmental and climate security not only in its own region but also globally. Emerging debates around human security, hence not a solely state-centric approach anymore, ocean change, respect for human rights, gender equality, and technological race happening in the discussed region concern experts – both practitioners and theoreticians. Such rising challenges demand greater scope of expertise and understanding of the Oceania dilemmas and local knowledge.

“The ‘Island Lives, Ocean States’ Interdisciplinary Project – lessons from the Pacific” seminar brings together 7 experts, enthusiasts of the Pacific region, who research and provide interdisciplinary analysis of how Pacific islanders and their states work to protect their sovereign land and sea territories from the uncertainties and threats caused by climate change.

The UiB based “The Island Lives, Ocean States: Sea Level Rise and Maritime Sovereignties in the Pacific” Project is directed by Prof. Edvard Hviding, Principal Investigator of this Research Council of Norway funded grand. The Faculty of Law is represented by Prof. Ernst Nordtveit and Dr. Joanna Siekiera.

Dr. Joanna Siekiera is organizing this event and she warmly invites everyone interested in Oceania, climate change, maritime security, and Pasifika to join her and her colleagues on the 18th of January.

Program: 

Opening: Dr. Joanna Siekiera, Faculty of Law Introduction: Prof. Ernst Nordtveit, Faculty of Law

Panel I 10.00-11.30

• Prof. Edvard Hviding, Department of Social Anthropology, Ocean diplomacy
• Dr. Vandhna Kumar, Geophysical Institute, Sea level projections for the Pacific
• Dr. Joanna Siekiera, Faculty of Law, The emergence of the new international custom based on regional practise of deposing maritime borders
• Panel discussion and Q&A, moderated by Prof. Ernst Nordtveit
   

Break 11:30-12:30
 

Panel II 12:30-14:00:

• Prof. Ernst Nordtveit, Faculty of Law, Sea level rise as a legal challenge
• M.A. Miriam Ladstein, PhD candidate, Department of Social Anthropology, Decolonising the Blue: civil society and the ocean-climate nexus in Fiji
• M.Sc. Ashneel Chandra, PhD candidate, Geophysical Institute, Sea level rise, natural variability, and climate extremes - how certain periods can have more impactful sea level changes
• M.A. Håkon Larsen, Research Assistant, Department of Social Anthropology, Contested Seascapes
• Panel discussion and Q&A, moderated by Prof. Edvard Hviding Closing words, by Dr. Joanna Siekiera