Dr Mitchell Lennan, Lecturer in Law at the University of Aberdeen, delivered the closing remarks at the Postgraduate Research Conference on International Law of the Sea at the Geneva Graduate Institute on 30 September 2026.
Dr Lennan is Co-Director of the Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law (AUCEL) and a member of the Aberdeen Centre for Constitutional and Public International Law (ACCPIL). He also chaired the conference’s final panel on climate change, sea-level rise and transnational challenges.
Organised by Laisa Branco, Tihao Zeng and Ralph Loren Eisendecher, the conference brought together postgraduate and early-career researchers to explore historical perspectives and contemporary challenges in the law of the sea. The programme covered maritime freedoms, marine biodiversity, deep-seabed mining, dispute settlement and the legal consequences of a changing ocean.
Building on Stephen Fietta KC’s opening reflections on the growing relevance of the law of the sea, Dr Lennan highlighted the importance of critically engaging with scientific evidence. Drawing on his research on fisheries and climate change, he discussed how science informs legal decisions while leaving questions of fairness, cooperation and the protection of livelihoods to be addressed.
He also emphasised the importance of considering human rights in marine environmental governance, including how decisions about conservation and resource use affect coastal communities’ food, work, health and culture.
His closing remarks encouraged researchers to recognise the contribution their work already makes to the field, including while their arguments are still developing. He thanked the organisers, speakers and participants for a stimulating day and encouraged them to continue the discussions and collaborations begun at the conference.