Women Bridging the Quintuple Helix: Collaborative Efforts in Marine Biodiversity Conservation”, by Aspasia Pastra, Vera Alexandropoulou, Tatiana Der Avedissian, Joana Soares.
Marine biodiversity, essential for maintaining ecosystem health and supporting human livelihoods, is under escalating threat from human-induced factors, including climate change, pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices, leading to the alarming reality that one (1) million species are threatened with extinction worldwide (IPBES, 2019). Historically, decisions regarding living resources and ocean use have predominantly relied on physical and chemical data. However, emerging technologies now enable the integration of biological and ecological Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) into surveys and monitoring programs at both local and regional scales (Muller-Karger et al., 2018). This abstract aims to present a case study of four women leading initiatives across academia, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), industry, and intergovernmental organizations to conserve marine biodiversity.
Their work underscores the importance of partnerships within the Quintuple Helix Model—integrating academia, industry, government, civil society, and the environment—as a framework for fostering collaboration, innovation, and complex decision making. Furthermore, the abstract explores how women navigate complex stakeholder interactions, contributing to the creation of a trust-based ecosystem that enables the widespread utilization of ocean technologies for the protection of marine ecosystems (Pastra et al., 2022). Ultimately, the case study highlights the transformative role of women in shaping dialogue, building trust, and driving action toward sustainable solutions for our oceans.
The Conference aims to highlight the importance of gender equality as a driver of sustainable growth across maritime, ocean science, fisheries, and other blue economy sectors.
Find the full link of abstracts here https://commons.wmu.se/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=lib_papers