On 10 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of one candidate to benefit from a Master’s degree provided by Nauru Resources Inc. (NORI) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA.
This training opportunity is a direct contribution of NORI to the ISA’s “Women in Deep-Sea Research” (WIDSR) Project1 as the contractor has committed to allocate at least half of the training placements to women candidates.
The selected candidate is Ms. Sera Lewanuya from Fiji.
The Master’s degree will be offered through the University of the South Pacific beginning in January 2022. The selected candidate will pursue studies in Marine Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Marine Science, Earth Sciences, Geosciences or Geology.
***
All contractors with ISA have a legal obligation to provide and fund practical training opportunities for personnel from developing States and those of ISA, including the participation of such personnel in all activities in the Area which are covered by the contract.
The legal basis for the requirement stems from the provisions of UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement and is set out in the standard terms of exploration contracts signed with ISA.
Please visit this page to know more about the Contractor Training Programme.
For additional information, please contact:
Ms. Annekah Mason, Training Coordinator, ISA, training@isa.org.jm
1 https://www.isa.org.jm/vc/enhancing-role-women-msr/WIDSR-project