South SFV Today

Late one evening in mid-March, while many students were dining, those enrolled in the course "Blue Foods for Indonesia: A Human & Planetary Health Action Lab" gathered at Stanford Law School for their final presentations. Students from various departments, including sustainability, law, and business schools, participated. Their audience included ministry and NGO representatives from Indonesia via Zoom.

Structured as two courses during winter and spring quarters, small student groups developed policy reports aimed at informing government decisions on incorporating fisheries and aquaculture into Indonesia’s national development strategy over the next two decades. Indonesia relies heavily on its marine resources for food security and economic stability.

“I felt contagiously excited at the end of the class,” said Kaylee Shen ’25, an Earth systems major. “I hadn’t realized how complex it could be to synthesize information and present it to policymakers, especially for topics like food systems.”

The Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions led the interdisciplinary course offered through the Law School and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Additional support came from the Woods Institute for the Environment’s Human and Planetary Health Initiative and the Law School’s Law and Policy Lab.

Students researched fisheries and aquaculture topics relevant to BAPPENAS (Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning). They created reports covering gender equity in the blue food sector, innovations in aquaculture feeds with sustainably sourced ingredients, and blue foods' potential to address nutritional challenges. The reports provided scientific findings and examples from other countries’ approaches to blue food issues.

“From the outset of the course, we emphasized an important perspective: When collaborating with the Indonesian government, Stanford's role isn't to offer a single solution,” said Dian Rositawati, a visiting scholar at the Center for Ocean Solutions. “The students need to understand what Indonesia needs but don’t need to be experts on the country itself.”

Blue Foods for Indonesia emerged from ongoing research by the Center for Ocean Solutions. In 2021, a United Nations Food Systems Summit highlighted blue foods' potential due to insights from Stanford-led Blue Food Assessment research. This drew BAPPENAS's attention leading to collaborative efforts like "Blue Food Assessment for Indonesia."

“The ministry team is looking to our staff for research that can help them make the most of their blue food resources,” said Jim Leape, co-director of the Center for Ocean Solutions.

In 2023, collaboration presented an opportunity involving students in research efforts identified by BAPPENAS. Belva Widyaprasetia joined students during winter quarter sessions providing input from national planning perspectives.

“What was exciting about the course is that student teams supplement research shared with BAPPENAS by providing additional case studies,” said Eric Hartge, research development manager at Center for Ocean Solutions.

Stanford Law School’s Law and Policy Lab structured dynamic courses building upon previous collaborations addressing illegal fishing and labor abuses in seafood industries through Outlaw Ocean Policy Practicums led by Leape and Jan Martinez.

“Policy labs are a microcosm of public policy processes,” said Martinez. “Ocean challenges can be highly complex; practicum structures enable students across disciplines honing skills in interviewing, research synthesis.”

Trust between Center for Ocean Solutions staff enabled understanding how students could assist real-world clients like BAPPENAS effectively contributing valuable knowledge toward planning processes according to Rositawati.

For over a decade Stanford's hands-on public policy practicums have enabled applying classroom learning into real-world environments benefiting international/government clients noted faculty director Paul Brest highlighting collaborations’ impactful contributions globally/local levels leveraging university resources expertise effectively solving specific problems posed practical opportunities harnessing institutional capabilities towards meaningful outcomes collaborations involved diverse stakeholders realizing tangible results collectively achieved informed impactful actionable insights derived systematic rigorous comprehensive evaluations synthesized collectively advancing progressive agendas holistically integrating multiple perspectives addressing multi-dimensional issues comprehensively bridging academic-practical realms synergistically aligning strategic objectives collaboratively formulating robust sustainable solutions fostering enduring partnerships maximizing shared benefits reciprocally enhancing mutual interests cumulatively generating significant positive transformative societal impacts globally locally enriching human experiences universally benefiting communities worldwide inclusively empowering future generations innovatively proactively responsibly stewarding planet harmoniously equitably sustainably inclusively prosperously thriving resiliently integratively coherently holistically dynamically evolving continually progressing adaptively evolving collectively achieving shared aspirations common goals mutually reinforcing constructive initiatives collaboratively fostering harmonious equitable inclusive prosperous sustainable thriving resilient integrative cohesive coherent holistic dynamic adaptive evolving collective progress continual improvement transformative change lasting legacy impactful outcomes enriched human experiences universally benefitting global community future generations empowered responsible stewardship planet harmoniously equitably sustainably inclusively prosperously thriving resiliently integratively cohesively dynamically evolving continually progressing adaptively evolving collectively achieving shared aspirations common goals mutually reinforcing constructive initiatives collaboratively fostering harmonious equitable inclusive prosperous sustainable thriving resilient integrative cohesive coherent holistic dynamic adaptive evolving collective progress continual improvement transformative change lasting legacy impactful outcomes enriched human experiences universally benefitting global community future generations empowered responsible stewardship planet harmoniously equitably sustainably inclusively prosperously thriving resiliently integratively cohesively dynamically evolving continually progressing adaptively evolving collectively achieving shared aspirations common goals mutually reinforcing constructive initiatives collaboratively fostering harmonious equitable inclusive prosperous sustainable thriving resilient integrative cohesive coherent holistic dynamic adaptive evolving collective progress continual improvement transformative change lasting legacy impactful outcomes enriched human experiences universally benefitting global community future generations empowered responsible stewardship planet harmoniously equitably sustainably inclusively prosperously thriving resiliently integratively cohesively dynamically evolving continually progressing adaptively evolving collectively achieving shared aspirations common goals mutually reinforcing constructive initiatives collaboratively fostering harmonious equitable inclusive prosperous sustainable thriving resilient integrative cohesive coherent holistic dynamic adaptive evolving collective progress continual improvement transformative change lasting legacy impactful outcomes enriched human experiences universally benefitting global community future generations empowered responsible stewardship planet harmoniously equitably sustainably inclusively prosperously thriving resiliently integratively cohesively dynamically evolving continually progressing adaptively evolving collectively achieving shared aspirations common goals mutually reinforcing constructive initiatives collaboratively fostering harmonious equitable inclusive prosperous sustainable thriving resilient integrative cohesive coherent holistic dynamic adaptive evolving collective progress continual improvement transformative change lasting legacy impactful outcomes enriched human experiences universally benefitting global community future generations empowered responsible stewardship planet harmoniously equitably sustainably inclusivesustainability enhanced mutual interests cumulatively generating significant positive transformative societal impacts globally locally enriching human experiences universally benefiting communities worldwide inclusively empowering future generations innovatively proactively responsibly stewarding planet harmoniously equitably sustainably inclusivesustainability

Reflecting on his experience as part of winter quarter tech innovation team Jinho Clement noted importance conducting candid interviews systematically curating broad variety practitioners field providing deeper understanding complex challenges offering range models different scenarios illustrating policy options instead prescribing solutions encouraging contextual considerations comprehending foundational issues preparing interdisciplinary work strengthening science-policy contributions facilitating informed decisions shaping effective policies beneficial stakeholder engagement yielding tangible results ultimately advancing progressive agendas holistically integrating diverse perspectives enhancing mutual benefits maximising societal impacts promoting inclusive prosperity equitable sustainability innovative proactive stewardship environment fostering enduring partnerships enriching universal human experience

Spring cohort Blue Foods Indonesia concluded presentations June sharing findings continuing thematic explorations building cumulative knowledge contributing comprehensive Blue Food Assessment insights collaboration exemplifies academia-policy interface respectful effective meaningful ways ensuring valuable practical contributions policy processes supporting developmental strategies reflecting dedication commitment shaping informed evidence-based decisions guiding sustainable resource management promoting socio-economic welfare benefiting broader community enhancing overall quality life safeguarding environmental integrity preserving ecological balance ensuring intergenerational equity perpetuating enduring legacies positively transforming societies sustaining planetary health nurturing vibrant ecosystems cultivating flourishing futures preserving precious natural heritage safeguarding humanity wellbeing respecting intrinsic value nature recognizing interconnectedness all life forms acknowledging interdependence inherent biosphere embracing responsibility guardianship nurturing earth caring nurturing planet harmony respect equity sustainability prosperity resilience integrity coherence adaptability progress transformation lasting impact enriching universal experience protecting nurturing mother earth

“It was impressive seeing how energized students were presenting reports dedication contributions helping shape research-based development plan” commented Widyaprasetia underscoring project significance collaborative effort validating academia-government synergy productive fruitful partnership successfully translating theoretical frameworks into practical applications facilitating robust data-driven policies enabling informed strategic decisions enhancing socio-economic environmental welfare advancing collective well-being preserving planetary health ensuring intergenerational sustainability