The CPUT Research Chair: Oceans Economy and Centre for Sustainable Oceans concentrate their endeavours on research and projects that underpins advancements of sustainable ocean health. The Centre focuses on the need to balance increased human ocean resource uses, impacts and development (the aspects of ocean wealth) with sustainable ocean health and inclusive uses.
The main research focus of the Centre is on ocean health and sustainability. The CSO focuses on three interwoven research themes related to the sustainability of the ocean and coastal areas linked to the ocean. The research themes focus on sectors and economies affecting changes in the ocean, the challenges facing advancement of ocean economies and governance in the South African Ocean Economy and the development of informed knowledge-bases, models and associated capacity development.
Research Theme 1: Changes in oceans arising from ocean economy sectors
Ocean economy sectors are influenced by human-related activities that affect the health of the ocean. Monitoring anthropogenic activities and impacts are needed to develop spatial information, data and knowledge affecting economy sectors by using spatial and valuation metrices. The Centre is currently assessing metrices in plastics and associated sectors of South Africa.
Research Theme 2: Decision-making in Ocean Governance
The second theme focuses on the application of “Science-to-Policy” research to support ocean governance. The rationale for the theme lies in the fact that decision-makers in ocean governance require a full suite of management options to allow optimal management. The Centre is currently focusing on Science-to-Policy research related to plastics, in particular microplastics and plastic litter.
Research Theme 3: Emergent and New Ocean Science Technologies – the development of capacity and skills by CPUT.
The third theme focuses on collaborations within CPUT, locally, regionally and internationally. Collaborations focus particularly within fields of pollution, biotechnology, engineering and data analyses to evaluate new and emergent technologies. The current focus is on innovation and capacity building regarding monitoring, ecotoxicology, biotechnology, spatial data and information analyses that will drive innovation and new knowledge bases for the development of new skills related to plastics in South Africa’s ocean economy.
Alignment to CPUT's Vision 2030 Strategy
With reference to CPUT’s Vision 2030 strategy, the Research Chair initiative aligns primarily to Focus Area 3: Smart RTIP that is relevant and has impact in terms of research output and uptake, and Focus Area 4: Smart Human Capital and Talent in terms of post-doctoral and postgraduate supervision. Initiatives are well positioned within CPUT’s Focus and Niche Areas:
Research Focus Area 1: Bio-Economy and Biotechnology
- Research Niche Area 3: Oxidative Stress in Health and Disease Development
Research Focus Area 2: Space Science, Engineering and Technology
- Research Niche Area 2: Space Applications
Research Focus Area 4: The Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability
- Research Niche Area 1: Climate Change and Sustainable Development
- Research Niche Area 2: Climate Change and Sustainable Environment.
- Research Niche Area 3: Cyclical Economy and Design for Sustainability
Research Focus Area 5: Human, Health and Social Dynamics, Including Issues Related to Service Delivery
Vision
The positioning of the Centre for Sustainable Oceans over a five-year period as a Centre of Excellence in international, regional, and national Ocean Governance arenas and a thought-leader in ocean sustainability and ocean conflict and equity challenges in the Southern African region
Mission
The advancement of knowledge and information bases, skills, and technologies for informed management and governance of multi-sectoral ocean resource-uses and ocean health across the Southern African Ocean Economies
Contact Details
- Physical Address: Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sciences Building, 4th Floor, Room 4.6, District Six Campus, CPUT, Corner Hanover & Tennant St, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
- Postal Address: Centre for Sustainable Oceans, Faculty of Applied Sciences, CPUT, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
- Contact Centre for Sustainable Oceans at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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