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Academic Council

Disseminate scientific knowledge to support the sustainable development of islands

Academic Council members are select institutions that facilitate studies centered around topics of particular relevance to islands.

The programme was designed to facilitate connections and collaboration between island communities and academia, encouraging the sharing of academic research with diverse island stakeholders.

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Member Institutions

University of the Faroe Islands
Caribbean Studies Association
Centre for Biosecurity Studies University of the West Indies
CASS Marinduque State University
Environmental Fridays Michigan USA
Galapagos Science Center
Humboldt Cosmos Multiversity
Islands and Small States Institute
Jersey International Centre of Advanced Studies
Massey University
Middlebury Institute Center for the Blue Economy
Reiner Lemoine Institute
SRC
Small Island Cultures Research Initiative
South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute
T. A. Marryshow Community College
UCL Islands and Coastal Research Lab
Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego
University College Cayman Islands
University of Aruba Research Centre
University of Guam
University of Madeira
University of Prince Edward Island Institute of Island Studies
University of St. Martin
University of Tasmania
University of the Azores
University of the Highlands and Islands
University of the Virgin Islands
Wadden Academy
Marinduque State University

Our Global Network

Discover the far-reaching influence of our Academic Council. Explore this interactive map to visualise the diverse locations of our member institutions across the globe.

Academic Council Members (32)

Policy Papers

The Academic Council is committed to fostering knowledge exchange and driving policy innovation. Our members regularly contribute thought-provoking policy papers addressing critical island challenges. Explore these insightful works below.

Cooperation Between the Public and Private Sector for Climate Adaptation: A Case Study on Fiji's Sovereign Green Bonds

Cooperation Between the Public and Private Sector for Climate Adaptation: A Case Study on Fiji's Sovereign Green Bonds

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From Periphery to Powerhouse: A New Policy Paradigm for Scotland's Islands

From Periphery to Powerhouse: A New Policy Paradigm for Scotland's Islands

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Waste, Sustainability, Climate Trade & Tourism Nexus in Barbados: Biotrash for Cash & The Spherical Economy (Part 1)

Waste, Sustainability, Climate Trade & Tourism Nexus in Barbados: Biotrash for Cash & The Spherical Economy (Part 1)

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An Overview of Loss & Damage in the Context of COP27 & COP28

An Overview of Loss & Damage in the Context of COP27 & COP28

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Can Vanuatu Tourism Keep Recovering?

Can Vanuatu Tourism Keep Recovering?

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Exploring amplified Food Security vulnerabilities in Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Exploring amplified Food Security vulnerabilities in Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

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The climate crisis and sea level rise: Brazil-Tuvalu analysis and opportunities for Brazilian leadership in adaptation and international cooperation

The climate crisis and sea level rise: Brazil-Tuvalu analysis and opportunities for Brazilian leadership in adaptation and international cooperation

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Redefining Health for Island Communities: What Island Communities Can Learn from Māori Approaches

Redefining Health for Island Communities: What Island Communities Can Learn from Māori Approaches

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Reconnecting Through Culture: A Model for Cultural and Health Empowerment

Reconnecting Through Culture: A Model for Cultural and Health Empowerment

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Insights and Recommendations on Societal Readiness for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Insights and Recommendations on Societal Readiness for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

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Meet the Academic Council Representatives

Professor Firouz Gaini

Professor Firouz Gaini

Professor in Social Anthropology, University of the Faroe Islands

Professor Dai-Yeun Jeong

Professor Dai-Yeun Jeong

Director, Asia Climate Change Education Center

President Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez

President Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez

President, University of St. Martin

President Giovanni Ruggieri

President Giovanni Ruggieri

President, Observatory of Tourism for Island Economies (OTIE)

Professor Simron J. Singh

Professor Simron J. Singh

Professor and University Research Chair, University of Waterloo

Ása Marta Sveinsdóttir

Ása Marta Sveinsdóttir

Researcher, Icelandic Tourism Research Centre

Deborah da Cunha Estima

Deborah da Cunha Estima

PhD Candidate and Researcher, The University of the Azores

Dominik Kalweit

Dominik Kalweit

Research Support Officer, Islands and Small States Institute (ISSI) of the University of Malta

Dr Andrew Jennings MA (Hons) MSc FHEA FrHist FSAScot

Dr Andrew Jennings MA (Hons) MSc FHEA FrHist FSAScot

Associate Professor in Island Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands

Dr. Austin J. Shelton III, Ph.D.

Dr. Austin J. Shelton III, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, University of Guam

Join the Academic Council

The Academic Council Goals

Maximize the impact of academic research by making it more accessible to a wider audience of practitioners and policymakers

Establish a greater academic focus on island communities by utilizing islands' social, economic and cultural realities as the context for exploring these topics

Deepen relationships between island-based academic institutions globally and provide them with useful resources for disseminating their research

Facilitate the engagement and collaboration of multiple stakeholders, such as private sector, researchers, NGOs, and policymakers

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