Pew Fellowships Advance Marine Conservation Research

In a move to bolster global marine conservation efforts, the Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded fellowships to seven distinguished scientists whose work aims to address pressing threats to the world's oceans. According to the announcement from Pew, the new cohort of fellows will join an esteemed global community of researchers tackling issues such as illegal fishing, vanishing coastal habitats, and plastic pollution. The fellowships provide funding and resources to support the scientists' innovative projects over the next three years. 'These researchers are at the forefront of efforts to protect the health and resilience of our ocean,' said Susan Pew Carey, director of Pew's marine fellows program. 'Their work will advance critical knowledge and inform solutions to some of the most urgent challenges facing marine ecosystems.' The 2026 Pew Marine Conservation Fellows are: - Dr. Mei Lin Neo, a coral reef ecologist from Singapore, who will study the impacts of climate change on coral reefs in the Coral Triangle region. - Dr. Ibukun Adewumi, a Nigerian fisheries scientist, who will investigate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices in West Africa. - Dr. Sonia Bejarano, a marine biologist from Mexico, who will examine the effects of coastal development on mangrove forests. - Dr. Arlo Hemphill, an American oceanographer, who will model the movement of microplastics in the global ocean. - Dr. Kerstin Forsberg, a Peruvian conservationist, who will work to protect endangered sea turtles and their habitats. - Dr. Asha de Vos, a Sri Lankan marine biologist, who will study the impacts of shipping traffic on whale populations. - Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, an American policy expert, who will develop strategies to build community resilience to climate change impacts on coastlines. 'These fellows bring a wealth of expertise and passion to addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our ocean,' added Carey. 'Their work will advance critical knowledge and inform solutions to protect the health and resilience of marine ecosystems worldwide.' The Pew Marine Conservation Fellowship program has supported over 150 researchers from more than 40 countries since its inception in 1996. The latest cohort underscores Pew's commitment to empowering scientists to drive progress in marine conservation on a global scale.