The International Conference on Marine Biodiversity, Socio-Environmental Aspects & Technology (ICMBSEAT) was successfully held from April 28 to 30, 2025, at the Chinese Teachers Memorial Auditorium, University of Karachi. Organized by the Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, the conference was co-organized by multiple departments and institutes within the university, including the Institute of Marine Sciences, Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, Institute of Environmental Studies, Department of Botany, Institute of Space Science and Technology, Department of Mathematics, Applied Economics Research Centre, and Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies. The event was held in collaboration with several national institutions as well, such as the Sindh Higher Education Commission, Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, National Institute of Oceanography, Sindh Wildlife Department, Sindh Livestock and Fisheries, Karachi Port Trust, IUCN, Pakistan Forest Department Sindh, Bahria University Karachi, National Institute of Maritime Affairs, and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.
The conference underscored the critical role of oceans in sustaining life on Earth. Oceans feed us, regulate the climate, and generate the majority of the oxygen we breathe. They support a wide array of sectors, from tourism and fisheries to international shipping. Healthy marine ecosystems are essential for providing food security, halophyte cultivation, renewable energy, raw materials for pharmaceuticals, building materials like coral reefs and sand, and natural protection against coastal erosion and floods. This high-impact conference brought together experts and scholars to discuss a wide range of themes in marine science and technology. The central topics included Marine Biodiversity, Marine Ecology, Marine Resources, Conservation, and Economics, Marine Environment and Climate Change, Coastal and Beach Management, Oceanography, Marine Renewable Energy and Fuel Technologies, Mathematical Modeling, and the Socio-environmental impacts of marine and coastal environments on communities. By covering both pure and interdisciplinary research, the conference aimed to align national efforts with global advancements in marine science.
Among the distinguished speakers from Pakistan and international research institutes, Professor Gi Hoon Hong from the IMBeR International Project Office, State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC), East China Normal University (ECNU), Shanghai emphasized that scientific research holds the key to unlocking the secrets of nature and multilateral international scientific research collaboration, such as IMBeR, would be beneficial to all coastal states. He advocated for the importance of scientific research in understanding and managing natural resources, mitigating climate change, and developing innovative solutions for sustainable development. Dr. Azra Meadows, from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, shared her optimism for the future of marine science in Pakistan, noting the strong potential and enthusiasm among the country’s youth.
Professor Gi Hoon Hong from IMBeR-IPO, SKLEC, ECNU delivered a keynote presentation titled “Quantifying carbon sequestration in coastal blue carbon ecosystems: A novel approach”
Dr. Samina Kidwai, IMBeR National Contact for Pakistan and Dr. Azra Meadows from University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK receiving conference souvenir from chief guest of the conference
In concluding remarks, Professor Dr. Saleha Rehman, the conference convener, highlighted the remarkable convergence of intellect, innovation, and international cooperation witnessed over the three-day event. She expressed that although it was a brief journey, it was filled with meaningful discourse, groundbreaking research, and shared visions for a sustainable marine future.
Speakers and participants of the International Conference on Marine Biodiversity, Socio-Environmental Aspects & Technology
Invited Author
Waqar Ahmed, a marine geochemist at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Pakistan, has been actively studying the Indus River, its deltaic creeks, and adjacent coastal waters since his Ph.D. research at the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC), East China Normal University (ECNU) – the host institution of the IMBeR IPO. In 2024, he co-authored the Indus River Delta chapter, alongside Dr. Samina Kidwai, for Delta Sustainability – A Report to the Mega-Delta Programme of the UN Ocean Decade.