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Barry A. Costa-Pierce, Ph.D., has been appointed holder of the 2017 KSLA Wallenberg Professorship, the fourth in the series. Professor Costa-Pierce, chair of the ɫ����ƵDepartment of Marine Sciences and director of the ɫ����Ƶ Center For Excellence in Marine Sciences, will be working with the Gothenburg University’s Swedish Mariculture Research Center, (SWEMARC), Sweden’s national center for marine aquaculture research. Costa-Pierce received the appointment during the commemorative meeting of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA) at Stockholm City Hall on Saturday, January 28, 2016.

On the 200^th anniversary of the Swedish Royal Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation donated a significant gift to fund seven one-year guest professorships of the highest international standard in the green industries. The purpose of the KSLA Wallenberg professorships is to establish ties with prominent international scientists who can contribute toward the renewal of Swedish science in the green sector, and to Swedish universities and academic institutions.

Professor Costa-Pierce is an internationally leading scientist in fisheries and aquaculture who conducts research on the development of sustainable systems for aquaculture from a holistic perspective. His research is impressively broad, also covering fishing and sustainable use of marine biological resources. He often applies a multidisciplinary approach, including ecological, economic and social aspects of sustainability. Professor Costa-Pierce will therefore significantly contribute to the build up of SWEMARC, one of Gothenburg University’s prioritized centers.

SWEMARC’s overall objective is to increase production of food from the sea in an environmentally smart way, through interdisciplinary research and community involvement. SWEMARC is part of a national network for aquaculture, therefore other Swedish universities, such as the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the universities of Uppsala and Stockholm, will also employ Professor Costa-Pierce’s expertise.

Professor Costa-Pierce has extensive international experience and has worked in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa as a consultant to a number of aid organizations. Through his extensive international network, he will also provide a solid base for further development of SWEMARC’s international cooperation in higher education and research.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award from Sweden’s Royal Academy of Agriculture and Forestry,” said Costa-Pierce. “The award will allow us to accelerate the development of ɫ����Ƶ international partnerships and programs in marine education and research across the North Atlantic, especially in ocean food systems.”

“Barry Costa-Pierce is a global leader in aquaculture and fisheries, and I am thrilled he will be applying his passion for sustainable food systems in this distinguished role as a Wallenberg Professor,” said ɫ����Ƶ President Danielle Ripich. “This incredible honor will undoubtedly lead to further innovation in ɫ����Ƶ Marine Sciences as well as new international opportunities for our students.”

About the University of New England:

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To learn more about the University of New England’s Center for Excellence in Marine Sciences, visit

To learn more about the University of New England’s Department of Marine Sciences visit

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