With sea levels rising, marine life disappearing, and global temperatures still climbing, the challenges of SDG14 are as vast and wide as the oceans themselves. Featuring timely work from leading universities, Higher Education and SDG14 offers a ‘deep dive’ into current geopolitical and sustainable affairs, as well as the critical role the higher education community can play in identifying and implementing planet-saving solutions.

Addressing issues such as climate change, aquatic life, habitat management, and conservation, chapters offer key insights, including firsthand accounts from students, into universities’ creative, mission-driven teaching and research. Showcasing the commitment of the aquatic and marine science agenda to fulfilling the core values of SDG14, the authors approach sustainability holistically with a special focus on environmental stewardship and responsibility.

Uniting real-world crises with everyday research and learning, this pioneering work champions the importance of governance and global cooperation for enacting era-defining change and sustaining and protecting life below water.

Higher Education and the Sustainable Development Goals is a series of 17 books that address each of the SDGs through the lens of higher education. Adopting a solutions-based approach, each book focuses on how higher education is advancing delivery of Agenda 2030. The series is edited by Wendy Purcell, Professor with Rutgers University and Academic Research Scholar with Harvard University; Emeritus Professor and University President Emerita.

'[This] is an ambitious series and I am especially interested to know that attention will be paid to SDG14, ‘Life Below Water’, dealing with a vital part of our planet that calls for urgent support. The book in question will clearly make a valuable contribution to our understanding of what needs to be done.

'As the Series Editor, Professor Purcell points out that higher education is well placed to drive the agenda forward. In my own research and advocacy, I have always emphasised the importance of harnessing the skills, knowledge and energy that young people can bring to the campaign. Delivering this crucial goal for the ocean requires action at all levels, through small organizations as well as large. We cannot simply wait for national governments and international bodies to take a lead.'

Simon J Davies is Adjunct Professor at the University of Galway, Ireland, and Emeritus Professor at Harper Adams University, UK.

Paul Robert van der Heijden is a biochemist by training who in 2000 founded MatureDevelopment BV to tackle sustainable development and create opportunities for young professionals.