UiB reappointed SDG14 ocean hub for UNAI
The University of Bergen has been confirmed as the UNAI SDG14 Hub Chair for 2025-2027 taking on three more years of responsibility to engage the global knowledge community in matters related to a sustainable ocean.
Published: (Updated: )
The University of Bergen (UiB) was first appointed to the role as SDG14, Life Below Water, Hub for United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) on UN Day 24 October 2018. In 2021 the university was reappointed for three more years. Now, UiB will be the SDG14 Hub Chair for 2025-2027.
“This not only underlines UiB’s standing as an internationally leading ocean university but also our role as a global driving force to contribute with research, education and knowledge to life below water and to reach the ambitious goals set in the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” says Rector Margareth Hagen at the University of Bergen.
This time UNAI had an open application process bringing stiff competition for becoming an UNAI SDG Hub Chair. With its solid work for the 2030 Agenda in general and SDG14 in particular UiB already had a solid position to continue in its UNAI Hub role, building on the university’s long-standing position as an internationally leading ocean education and research environment.
“What’s new this time around is that we’ll be leading a team of universities as part of the UNAI Hub appointment. Three other universities will join us and will be assigned a role each as Vice-Chairs in research, education and partnerships respectively,” says Professor Øyvind Fiksen, who is also the Vice Dean for Ocean at UiB.
There is currently an outreach process to find the right partners to complement UiB’s expertise in ocean science and education. A formal appointment of the Hub Vice-Chairs is expected shortly.
“We will pick our partners based on our long-standing international partnerships in ocean science and education. There will be universities from around the world to underline our commitment to bridging the gap between the “Global South” and the “Global North”. The team will engage strongly with increasing ocean literacy globally both among the public and policymakers, says Rector Hagen.
UNAI gathered the new cohort of its SDG Hub Chairs for all 17 SDGs in late January 2025. In the meeting it was also discussed how the university sector globally can contribute to fighting disinformation and handle the increasing attacks on research-based knowledge. This is necessary to succeed in executing and implementing the ambitious goals set in the 2030 Agenda adopted by the UN member states.
“For UiB, Bergen, and Norway the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France in June will be an important arena to show the university sector’s knowledge and science to contribute to a sustainable development of the ocean and the implementation of international agreements on climate change, biodiversity and pollution,” says Fiksen.
