CIL researchers presented at the H2OLAW Law-Science Interfaces within the Law of the Sea and Fresh Water Law, 26-27 September 2024, Leiden, the Netherlands.

Research Associate Eduardo Cavalcanti de Mello Filho presented on “Science within the Framework of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: Identifying the Provenance of Scientific Authority”. It inquired how scientific claims may inform the meaning of terms in the Law of the Sea Convention — through the process of treaty interpretation in accordance with the relevant rules of international law.

Research Fellow Liu Yulu and Research Associate Daniel Pakpahan co-presented on the interplay between scientific advisory bodies and international law for the protection of the marine environment. The presentation revisited the categorisation of scientific advisory bodies, then addressed two aspects of international law in regard to scientific bodies: the interpretation of legal provisions requiring the best available science, and how scientific advice may be influenced by, and in turn influence, the evolution of the functions of the relevant international organisations.

The conference was organised by the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden Law School, with participation from academics and practitioners from the five continents. Preceded by a keynote speech by the President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Tomas Heidar, the Conferences counted on presentations that varied in scope, depth, and approach in both the law of the sea and fresh water law.