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15, October 2022 – IMarEST Maritime Professional Engineering Ethics.
Vic Grosjean on why he launched the Ocean Innovators® series to support an ocean sustainable development goal.
“As engineers, we have an ethical responsibility towards society” – Engineer and oceanographer Vic Grosjean on why he launched the Ocean Innovators® series to support an ocean sustainable development goal.
Q: What does your current role involve?
I wear many hats I am a mechatronics engineer, a university lecturer and the CEO of OceanX Group in Australia. My roles involve developing and integrating innovative technologies to monitor and protect the environment. My career focus is to build cooperation between organisations to preserve the future of our oceans, promote peace and support the environment. I work a lot with developing communities. With a large portfolio of coastal projects acquired over 16 years of ocean-related work, I specialise in integrating nature- based solutions, social innovation and smart engineering technologies applied to environmental monitoring.
Q: What is it about your role that excites you most?
I thrive to support developing coastal communities most at risk of climate change and pollution. I truly believe that, as engineers, we have an ethical responsibility towards society. The favourite part of my job is giving back to the community through awareness and education. This is why I launched the Ocean Innovators® video series to promote innovative solutions helping to protect our oceans.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career?
I have learnt that sometimes the solutions of today can become the problems of tomorrow. Society has a tendency to promote engineering solutions over social and nature- based solutions. On average, engineering solutions are 90%more expensive than traditional well-implemented nature-based solutions in developing countries. One key to better integrate engineering solutions is to support local initiatives, engage with local communities and traditional owners.
Q: What opportunities are opening up for the marine sector now?
Humanity has recently entered a new era. Climate change and global instabilities are completely reshaping our world, our trades and our levels of security. I am truly convinced that the marine sector has a critical role to play in this new world order. To foster sustainable development, we must support small island nations and invest in coastal communities.
Q: What would you like to change in the current marine landscape?
We absolutely need more investment in the current marine landscape. Did you know that UN Sustainable Development Goal number 14, ‘Life Below Water’, is currently one of the least-funded sustainable development goals? Obviously, if we fail to achieve a goal linked to the biosphere, it will immediately compromise the other goals.
Q: What are the main challenges and opportunities facing the marine sector right now?
Industry 4.0 is what we call the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Many opportunities lie in ever- increasing interconnectivity and smart automation in the marine sector. Our biggest challenges are encouraging diversity and inclusion, and better cooperation with developing countries.
Q: Where do you see your career going over the next 10 years?
Supporting multilateral organisations to launch academic programmes, which will bring together ocean engineering and the knowledge of traditional owners.
Vic Grosjean is CEO of OceanX Group and executive producer of the Ocean Innovators® video series, which features key solutions to help save oceans.
Read more:
‘The big questions: As engineers, we have an ethical responsibility towards society’, Issue 3, 2022, 1 October 2022, by CARLY FIELDS, on ‘Marine Professional, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST)’, Engineer and oceanographer Vic Grosjean on why he launched the Ocean Innovators® series to support an ocean sustainable development goal.
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