The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italy’s equivalent of the USA National Institutes of Health) convened an International High Level Forum, whose website is here. Thanks to ISS director Dr. Andrea Piccioli for involving Jesse, some of whose remarks are included in this 4-minute video summary of the forum. Below is Jesse’s abstract.
Human Health and the Anthropocene Ocean draft 2 June 2026 Jesse H. Ausubel
Abstract: I will consider the oceans and human health in two ways. I will speak of the natural oceans as a source of risk and trauma, even death, for the millions who work or travel on or below the ocean surface. The good news is humanity has greatly reduced the danger of the natural oceans to our health. The pillars of healthy maritime practice are safety, environment, education, and working conditions. Many opportunities exist to reduce illness, fatigue, and accidents further, for example, by wearable sensors and biodiaries. Then, I would like to speak about ways humans are changing the oceans, creating an “Anthropocene Ocean” full of products and by-products of human industry. The worrisome news is that we may be introducing and lifting threats to the well-being of the billions who live near the Anthropocene ocean, especially through pollution coming from land-based and atmospheric sources and from the sea itself. Major maritime nations need to lead in identifying and accelerating development and adoption of technologies to promote a clean ocean. These could range from cleaner, more efficient motors and fuels to new forms of remediation and waste management; better ways to monitor, track, and map marine pollutants and progress toward a clean ocean such as aerial remote sensing, genomics, and hydrophone arrays; and better technologies for emergency cleanup. Key words: biosurveillance; biodiaries; Anthropocene ocean; healthy ocean