This course is structured around complex sustainability challenges related to human use and

interaction with the ocean. These challenges include sea level rise and ocean acidification, marine

pollution, fishing, and resource extraction. In addition to recognizing the scope of the challenges

at local to international levels, we will cover core concepts in marine science to understand the

underlying mechanisms needed to design pathways to solutions. We will explore the role of

emerging technologies and big data play in understanding and monitoring conditions. Solutions to

these challenges lie at the intersection of marine science and policy. To this end, we will examine

existing and historical policy frameworks surrounding these challenges. In the context of the

United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, this course offers an opportunity to discuss emerging

topics and approaches to achieving sustainable marine ecosystems. The course is broken into four

main topic areas within approximately 4-week blocks, with a week at the end of the semester for

synthesis of the material.