The fate of our ocean lies at the intersection of science and policy. As marine scientists watch political decisionmakers prioritize short-term profits over ocean health, the need to bridge the gap between research and policymaking has never been more urgent. This science-policy interface ensures that scientific evidence shapes policy decisions and empowers an informed public to advocate for ocean protection. In this edition of Back to Blue, we spotlight two leading science-policy experts who are working to strengthen this vital connection between marine research and environmental policy. Professor Alex Rogers examines the ocean's triple crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution – while highlighting promising developments like advanced robotics for ocean monitoring and emerging models of global scientific collaboration. Professor Mitsutaku Makino describes the growing recognition of ocean threats among stakeholders in Japan and across the world, while acknowledging the substantial work that remains to be done. These conversations reveal the resilience of the ocean science community in the face of geopolitical obstacles, in alignment with Back to Blue's mission to make ocean science accessible to everyone and fostering a better-informed public that can advocate for evidence-based ocean policies.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Economist Impact

https://backtoblueinitiative.com/