30 Mar CEMarin announces a transition in its Executive Directorate and projects the continuity of its scientific mission
After consolidating a network of scientific cooperation with national, regional, and international impact, Dr. Andrés Osorio concludes his tenure, making way for Dr. John Selvaraj as Executive Director.
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The Corporation Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences – CEMarin experienced a significant moment for its academic and scientific community with the ceremony marking the transition in its Executive Directorate, held on March 27 at the Newspaper Library of the National University of Colombia in Bogotá.
The gathering brought together researchers, public and private institutional partners, academic representatives, and members of the CEMarin community to recognize the leadership of Dr. Andrés Osorio, who led the organization for nearly six years, and to welcome Dr. John Selvaraj as the new Executive Director.
During the ceremony, the progress made in recent years was highlighted, a period in which CEMarin strengthened its role as an international scientific cooperation platform, enhancing interdisciplinary research, science outreach processes, and the development of marine science projects with national and regional impact.
Under the leadership of Dr. Andrés Osorio, the corporation promoted more than 20 projects in the Colombian Pacific and Caribbean, as well as regional initiatives in Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Aruba. The network of researchers grew significantly, and new academic institutions joined, strengthening the Colombian-German cooperation that characterizes CEMarin. All of this while maintaining the active participation of researchers from around the world in congresses, courses, conferences, and events led and co-organized by the corporation.
Today, CEMarin is a network of partner institutions and a national, regional, and international reference center; we are full of scientific, technological, and institutional possibilities. I believed in this project and poured my heart and soul into this ship. Many thanks to all our partners, and I hope to keep sailing now as a crew member. — Dr. Andrés Osorio.
The event was also a space for meeting and discussion about the future of marine sciences in the country. In this new chapter, Dr. John Selvaraj assumes the Executive Directorate with the goal of continuing to strengthen the collaborative work of the network, ensuring continuity of the progress achieved, and projecting its scientific, academic, and social impact.
CEMarin’s new Executive Director, Dr. Selvaraj, brings more than 20 years of scientific and academic experience as a senior researcher recognized by Minciencias and an associate professor at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. A specialist in marine sciences, fisheries, and coastal sustainability, he has led national and international initiatives aimed at science-based solutions for the sustainable management of marine resources and climate change adaptation. He holds a PhD in Fisheries Resource Management, and his career has been marked by strong experience in global scientific cooperation and project leadership, collaborating with organizations such as FAO, ESA, Sida, EURISY, IOCCG/NASDA, and NACA, as well as academic institutions such as Hokkaido University in Japan and Colombian entities such as AUNAP, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Colombian Ocean Commission, INVEMAR, and IIAP, strengthening the bridge between research, public policy, and marine sustainability.
I take on this challenge in a global context in which the oceans are at the center of major challenges such as climate change, food security, and sustainability. But this will only be possible if we work together, and to do so, I propose three approaches: we must invest in training the next generations of scientists and ocean leaders; we need to go further so that our science translates into decisions, public policies, and measurable results; and finally, we must work as a connected network with our 10 member institutions, share data and infrastructure, and build joint agendas to stop working in isolation and operate as a system. — Dr. John Selvaraj.
The day concluded with a networking session that allowed the community to connect, reconnect, and welcome this continuation of the institutional journey.
This transition reaffirms CEMarin’s commitment to scientific knowledge, international cooperation, and the development of a national vision that recognizes the strategic importance of the oceans and coastal zones.
