Leadership and Governance for Urban Ocean Regeneration

Coastal cities face numerous adaptive challenges, including: (1) rising sea levels causing coastal erosion and flooding, (2) increasing storm intensity and frequency, (3) declining water quality due to pollution and over-extraction, (4) resource depletion and competition, and (5) the exacerbation of existing social and economic inequities in vulnerable coastal communities. 

The Leadership and Governance for Urban Ocean Regeneration "Vaquita" Fellowship program is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to advance the Urban Oceans agenda in their respective coastal cities. Vaquita Fellows will contribute to sustainable urban development in coastal regions by deploying adaptive leadership interventions and prototyping innovative solutions. The program is named after the vaquita, an endangered porpoise that lives in the Gulf of California. The Vaquita Fellowship program is open to students, academics, researchers, and advocates for the adaptation and regeneration of urban oceans and coastal cities in the US.

Program Goals:

• Foster a cohort of adaptive leaders capable of addressing complex challenges related to urban oceans.

• Equip Fellows with the Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) methodology for effective problem-solving.

• Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing among Fellows and local stakeholders.

• Advance the Urban Oceans agenda through concrete actions and initiatives.

Program Structure:

• Duration: 12-24 months

• Cohort Size: 10-15 Fellows per coastal city or bio-region

• Institutional Hosts (optional): City government offices and up to five local schools, colleges, or universities 

• Team Structure: Fellows will work in teams of 3 in quarterly cycles

Program Components:

1. Adaptive Leadership Training: Fellows will receive comprehensive training in adaptive leadership principles, including:

   • Understanding complex systems and adaptive challenges

   • Building relationships and trust with diverse stakeholders

   • Applying PDIA to drive iterative problem-solving

   • Embracing experimentation and learning from failure

2. Urban Oceans Community: Fellows will gain a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing urban coastal regions, including:

   • Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies

   • Sustainable fisheries management and marine conservation

   • Blue economy development and job creation

   • Coastal resilience and disaster preparedness

3. Team-Based Projects: Fellows will work in teams to identify and address specific challenges related to the Urban Oceans agenda in their respective cities. The PDIA methodology will guide projects and will involve:

   • Problem definition and framing

   • Experimentation and iteration

   • Learning and adaptation

   • Scaling and impact assessment

4. University-hosted Blue Economy Labs: The program will provide Fellows five university licenses of the Blue Economy Lab. Fellows may assign these Blue Economy Lab licenses to interested local universities, enabling them to:

   • Run Blue Economy Lab research programs, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programs (UROP), Fellowships, courses, incubators,  and other initiatives within their campuses

   • Use the Blue Economy Lab brand and platform to co-create solutions with local stakeholders

   • Host events as part of the global Blue Economy Lab global community

   • Involvement in the Community-based Global Learning Collaborative (www.cbglcollab.org)

Benefits of Participation:

• Develop essential leadership skills for addressing complex challenges

• Gain expertise in urban oceans issues and sustainable development

• Contribute to positive change in coastal communities

• Network with like-minded professionals and build a strong community of practice