The Elisabeth Mann Borgese (EMB) Bursary of the International Ocean Institute (IOI) was established as a means of demonstrating recognition to the host country of the IOI – Malta. Malta hosts the IOI Headquarters and provides facilities for staff and offices at the University of Malta’s Msida campus. The Bursary is financed through the IOI and constitutes a further recognition and acknowledgement of the role of Prof. E. Mann Borgese, founder of IOI, and of her considerable achievements.
The 2016 EMB Bursary is awarded to Dr Stefano Moncada to carry out research titled “Climate Coping Strategies, Economic Wellbeing and Sustainability in Vulnerable Coastal Communities”. The research, to be conducted by Dr Stefano Moncada within the Elisabeth Mann Borgese Bursary 2016/2017 is to identify the coping strategies adopted in reaction to climate variability and change, and to discuss their implications for economic wellbeing and for long-term sustainability. The research intends to investigate this in the context of vulnerable coastal communities in small islands, supporting research and teaching activities between the national and regional centres working in the field of sustainable uses of Ocean resources.
The 2015 EMB Bursary awarded to Ms Kristina Edwards to carry out research on the effects of microplastics exposure on marine life with particular reference to the Central Mediterranean has also come to its conclusion this October with the successful achievement of the research aims for the EMB Bursary award.
The award ceremony for this year’s Bursary was held on 13 October at the offices of the IOI Headquarters on campus. Present at the ceremony were Pro-Rector Professor Joseph Cacciattolo, Professor Louis Cassar, Dr Stefano Moncada, Ms Antonella Vassallo (IOI Managing Director) and the previous EMB Bursary award winner Ms Kristina Edwards.
For further information about the IOI and its programmes please contact ioihq@ioihq.org.mt or view the IOI HQ website.
Photo Caption: Award of the EMB Bursary 2016/17 to Dr Stefano Moncada. Present at IOI HQ were (L-R) Prof Louis Cassar, Director, Institute of Earth Systems; Prof Joseph M. Cacciottolo, Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs, University of Malta; Antonella Vassallo, Managing Director, IOI; Stefano Moncada; Kristina Edwards, Bursary awardee 2015-16; and Ben Rizzo, IOI.
Elisabeth Mann Borgese (April 24, 1918 - February 8, 2002), founded the IOI in 1972 as a knowledge-based non-governmental, non-profit international organization devoted to the sustainable development of the oceans. IOI works to uphold and expand the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the benefit of humankind as a whole, with particular consideration of the poor. The mission of the International Ocean Institute is to promote education, training and research to enhance the peaceful uses of ocean space and its resources, their management and regulation as well as the protection and conservation of the marine environment, guided by the principle of the Common Heritage of Mankind.
Malta is the host country of the International Ocean Institute Headquarters. As an island state straddling the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, it has a long history of dependence on the sea as well as a strong tradition of maritime, fishing and seafaring occupation. Its membership of the European Union confers on it an obligation to adhere to the European maritime and fishing policies as well as conventions and regulations which are global in scope.