Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) Sustainability Seminar Series Spring 2026 - Shared Ocean, Shared Science: How science diplomacy can turn the tide in the South China Sea
Supporting the below United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:支持以下聯合國可持續發展目標：支持以下联合国可持续发展目标：
In an era of rising geopolitical rivalry, the oceans have become both battleground and bridge. Ocean science diplomacy is emerging as one of the most powerful — and overlooked — tools for managing shared marine resources, confronting climate change and safeguarding biodiversity. From the high seas to fragile coral reefs, scientific collaboration is helping nations navigate rising sea levels, depleted fisheries and maritime security risks. Nowhere is this tension more visible than in the South China Sea — a region defined by strategic competition yet bound together by a shared marine ecosystem. This talk explores how science can function as a stabilizing force amid political turbulence. Under the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science, researchers, policymakers and regional actors are forging new pathways for cooperation — proving that data, dialogue and joint research can succeed where traditional diplomacy often stalls. In contested waters, science may prove to be the safest harbor.
Date
13 Feb 2026 (Fri)
Time
9:00am-10:30am (HKT)
Format
Zoom
Topic
“Shared Ocean, Shared Science: How science diplomacy can turn the tide in the South China Sea”
Speaker
Mr. James Borton - Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University
Moderator
Prof. Masaru Yarime, Associate Professor, Division of Public Policy & Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Registration
https://ust.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ld9MqdZZa5wfr0
James Borton is a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University SAIS Foreign Policy Institute and the author of several policy books on the South China Sea. His latest is Harvesting the Waves: How Blue Parks Shape Policy, Politics, and Peacebuilding in the South China Sea. He is also a regular commentary contributor to the South China Morning Post, East Asia Forum, Nikkei Asia and UPI.