Dean of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) at the Maldives National University (MNU), participated in the First International Conference on Deep Ocean Microbiomes and Ecosystems (DOME) – Biodiversity and Ecological Processes in a Changing Climate, held at Shanghai Ocean University.

The conference brought together microbiologists, biogeochemists, geobiologists, ecologists, and oceanographers from around the world to advance fundamental understanding of bioresources and life processes in the deep ocean. The deep ocean, which comprises about 80% of the planet’s habitable volume, contains a trove of microbial diversity with unique physiology, metabolism, and genetic resources that provide ecosystem services of enormous value to humankind. Deep-ocean microorganisms and the communities they form drive global biogeochemical cycles, including those that regulate Earth’s climate. Climate change is inflicting ever-increasing pressures on these marine microbiomes and ecosystems, making international scientific collaboration more urgent than ever.

The conference featured presentations on field, laboratory, and theoretical studies examining deep ocean microbiomes and ecosystems, with sessions covering microbial interactions, matter and energy cycles, carbon export, and the role of deep-sea organisms in global biogeochemical processes. Participants also explored the application of innovative tools and technologies, including laboratory analysis, field sampling, and modelling approaches.

Dr. Jauharee’s participation underscores CFOS’s commitment to international research collaboration and to understanding the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, particularly in the context of the Maldives’ own deep-sea environments. The conference provided a platform for sharing knowledge and forging partnerships that will inform future research and conservation efforts in the Indian Ocean and beyond.