University and Coastal Society Contributions to Ocean Sustainability

Coastal communities and their environments are experiencing rapid transformations. Global shifts in demographics, weather patterns, water systems, and climate are significantly impacting coastal businesses, communities, and ecosystems. Addressing these challenges requires the sustainable use and conservation of coastal and marine resources to foster a robust economy, a healthy environment, and resilient and inclusive communities. Despite advancements, substantial knowledge gaps persist concerning marine ecosystems and their interconnectedness with society. Even when evidence-based strategies to prevent marine ecosystem loss are available, they are often overlooked in policy and management frameworks. Additionally, many existing policies, plans, and actions aimed at addressing marine ecosystem challenges have proven ineffective or counterproductive, sometimes exacerbating environmental degradation or deepening socio-economic disparities and injustices.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, there is growing consensus on the need for a rapid, significant, and coordinated transformative change. This transformation must integrate environmental, social, cultural, behavioral, economic, political, health, and justice dimensions to achieve meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

Central to this effort is the integration of science and engagement programs focused on watersheds, and coastal, and ocean ecosystems, highlighting the critical connections between these systems and the well-being of coastal communities. This thematic issue invites submissions of practical case studies that demonstrate the role of universities as collaborative platforms for promoting sustainable development in marine and coastal regions. These collaborations unite individuals, communities, educators, scientists, legal experts, organizations, industries, and governments, leveraging the best available science, technology, policy insights, and resource management expertise. Contributors are especially encouraged to emphasize the social impacts of their practices, showcasing how their initiatives address real-world challenges. This focus on tangible outcomes underscores the importance of translating research and engagement into lasting benefits for both communities and ecosystems.

Authors interested in submitting a paper for this issue are asked to consult the journal's instructions for authors and submit their abstracts (maximum of 250 words, with a tentative title) through the abstracts system (here). When submitting their abstracts, authors are also asked to confirm that they are aware that Ocean and Society is an open access journal with a publishing fee if the article is accepted for publication after peer-review (corresponding authors affiliated with our institutional members do not incur this fee).

Readers across the globe will be able to access, share, and download this issue entirely for free. Corresponding authors affiliated with any of our institutional members (over 90 institutions worldwide) publish free of charge. Otherwise, an article processing fee will be charged to the authors to cover editorial costs. We defend that authors should not have to personally pay this fee and encourage them to check with their institutions if funds are available to cover open access publication costs. Further information about the journal's open access charges can be found here.