Mexico. Eastman Foundation joined forces with forward-thinking companies, industry groups, scientists, governments and ocean advocates to support the blue economy during the 2018 World Ocean Summit in Riviera Maya.
Organized by The Economist, it convened nearly 400 world leaders to discuss innovative approaches and engage in collaborative actions to mitigate how our changing planet affects marine life and water systems.
Eastman has created a strong support platform for ocean research and education. David A. Golden, Senior Vice President of Eastman, Director of Legal affairs and Sustainability, Corporate Secretary and President of the Eastman Foundation, commented: "The world faces enormous challenges that will require global solutions. We understand that the ocean is central to our climate, atmosphere, climate, food, energy and water systems. There's no place in the world where the ocean doesn't matter."
During a panel discussion at the event, Golden went into more detail about how the gap between underfunded ocean science and education and overtaxed resources, which are expected to deliver solutions, is not sustainable. As a global company, Eastman is trying to facilitate communications that translate the importance of the ocean and its relevance in our daily lives.
Eastman and his foundation explained that they support education and are positioned to take risks and make smart investments in innovation such as:
- Active public/private partnership with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, which includes funding innovative technologies with the potential to accelerate ocean research.
- Member of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.
- Multi-year support partner of The World Ocean Summit.
- Multi-year supporting partner of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl.
- Development of a unique educational curriculum for a final course of ocean processes at the secondary level.
"True innovation happens while we collaborate and have an open dialogue, asking the right questions and challenging technology and material capabilities. Once the discussion begins, so does the learning. People open up to new ideas and opportunities for innovation. No idea is impossible if the right partners are at the table," Golden said.
