PRESS RELEASE
11 January 2013 • PRE-13-01R
Contact:
Mirjam Kaplow, Head of Communications
Tel: +1 (212) 963-6346
Mobile: +1 (917) 951-5287
kaplow@unu.edu

Scottish Association for Marine Science and United Nations University
Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Foster Water Science
World First for Scottish Marine ResearchOban, Scotland/Tokyo, Japan, 11 January 2013 — Today the United Nations University (UNU) and theScottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding making SAMS
the first marine research institute to become an associated institution of the UNU.
The deal has been welcomed by Scotland’s Education Secretary Michael Russell, who described it as
highlighting the “international recognition” of Scottish marine science.
UNU and SAMS, which have collaborated previously on projects, will work together to promote research,
postgraduate training and the spread of knowledge on coastal and marine resource management, safe
water provisioning and water health, focusing especially on the challenges faced by developing nations.
The agreement was signed by the Rector of UNU, Professor Konrad Osterwalder, and SAMS Director
Professor Laurence Mee.
Professor Osterwalder said: “It is about time to build strong alliances to foster research and education inwater-related topics, especially the connection between water and safety, water and health. Science plays
a vital role in developing indicators to identify and to address water challenges that affect so many people
around the globe. We have been working successfully with SAMS in several research projects and arelooking forward to strengthen our cooperation with such a renowned institution.”
Professor Mee said: “Being the first UNU Associated Institution for marine science is a huge honour for
SAMS and for Scotland as a whole. It gives us global recognition for our 126 years of innovation in thisfield. This is a fantastic opportunity to help develop a new cadre of scientists across the world who arekeen to develop science for sustainable use of the marine environment.”
Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “This Memorandum of Understanding is terrific news andrepresents a world first for Scotland. It means SAMS is the first marine research institute anywhere to
become associated with the academic arm of the United Nations and builds on more than a century ofinnovation in the waters off the west of Scotland.”“It underlines the international recognition of Scottish marine science, and the esteem in which Scottish
research is held throughout the rest of the world. Even more importantly, it allows our marine scientists tohelp address some of the most pressing environmental issues faced by developing nations. Using Scottish
academic expertise in this way will be a hallmark of the progress that this Memorandum of Understanding
will bring, and I look forward to seeing it in action.”

Scottish Association for Marine Science and United Nations University
Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Foster Water Science

The United Nations University was founded some 40 years ago as the academic arm of the United Nations.
Its mandate is to support the United Nations and its Member States through research, postgraduate
education and capacity building and to serve as a think tank for the United Nations system. UNU isa global university, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, and 15 institutes and programmes locatedthroughout the world. Around 200 students are currently enrolled in its seven master’s and PhD programs.
The focus of UNU’s work is on pressing global problems that are of concern to the UN rather than along
the lines of traditional academic disciplines.
Like UNU, SAMS has a vision and mission to increase knowledge and stewardship of the marine
environment. It is an independent institution with a 126-year tradition of research, education andoutreach. Based on the west coast of Scotland, it is one of the UK’s leading oceanographic institutions,rich in research and education expertise, with an extensive list of national and international collaborative
projects. It is a founding partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands, an institution that delivers
undergraduate and postgraduate education through a network of colleges across Scotland extending toremote rural and island communities.
SAMS has an international profile with about 160 staff who deliver academic and applied research
programmes, highly regarded bachelor’s and master’s degree courses, and maintain a postgraduate
school.
As part of an interdisciplinary team, SAMS has been providing expertise on large marine ecosystems andopen ocean ecosystems to the UNU’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH). Dueto end soon, this three-year project was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It has been
consolidating information generated by about 200 International Waters (IW) projects implemented byGEF. These projects reviewed sustainable management of shared trans-boundary water systems. Thecollaboration has been a good forerunner to the latest and more significant association between UNU andSAMS.

For further information please contact:• For UNU: Mirjam Kaplow, Head of Communications, United Nations University kaplow@unu.edu,
phone +1(212) 963 6346; mobile +1 (917) 951 5287
• For SAMS: Dr. Anuschka Miller, Head of Communications, SAMS anuschka.miller@sams.ac.uk,
phone +44 1631 559300• For interviews with Scotland’s Education Secretary: Vikki Pescodd, Senior Communications 		
Officer, Communications Smarter Victoria.Pescodd@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, phone +44 131 244 2972###