UNH Today

The Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, an international collegial institution focused on the modern law of the sea, has found a new administrative home at the UNH School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (SMSOE).

The Rhodes Academy was established in 1995 to educate students on contemporary issues associated with the 1982 United Nations convention on the Law of the Sea. Each year, the academy hosts a world-renowned three-week training program for approximately 50 students from around the globe. During the program, students learn the principles of ocean law and policy from a global perspective to augment their education. Hailing from 126 countries, graduates from this program are viewed as global leaders in regional and international ocean law and policy.

“We’re very excited to welcome the Rhodes Academy to UNH,” says Diane Foster, director for the UNH SMSOE. “Larry Mayer and his colleagues at the UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping are internationally recognized for their expertise in ocean mapping and the Law of the Sea, and the Rhodes Academy transition to UNH speaks to that knowledge.”

SMSOE recently developed an undergraduate minor and graduate courses in marine policy, so the addition of the Rhodes Academy will continue to build the school’s momentum in this critically important area, Foster says. “Our oceans are changing, and our students and alumni are passionate about solving tomorrow’s problems,” she notes. “Our graduates become leaders who influence ocean policy, and our new connection to the Rhodes Academy is another opportunity to support them as they move forward with their careers.”

A team of international law experts, in conjunction with sponsoring universities and institutions, helps to facilitate the Rhodes Academy each year. The program was previously administered through the Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law. Judy Ellis, the principal administrator of the program, has joined the SMSOE community and will continue to oversee the academy remotely.  

The academy, which usually takes place in Rhodes, Greece, was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. The program will be virtual this year in light of those same concerns.  

The Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS) is UNH's largest research enterprise, comprising six center with a focus on interdisciplinary, high-impact research on Earth and climate systems, space science, the marine environment, seafloor mapping, and environmental acoustics. With more than $60 million in external funding secured annually, EOS fosters an intellectual and scientific environment that advances visionary scholarship and leadership in world-class research and graduate education.