Blue Lab
The ocean sits at the center of the Asia-Pacific’s climate and biodiversity crisis–and at the center of its solutions.
The Blue Lab combines art and science to translate complex marine research into practical solutions for governments and communities. Through data, economic analysis and storytelling, we make ocean policy more accessible, actionable and grounded in real-world contexts.
Quick facts: Blue Lab
Availability
Year-round
Eligibility
- School of Foreign Service (SFS) graduate students
- Georgetown SFS Asia Pacific (GSAP) students
- Executive education professionals
Credits
- Academic credit available for Georgetown students
Offerings
- 1 course, or
- Research project
Faculty
- Elle Wibisono
Fieldwork locations
- Jakarta
- Eastern Sumba
- North Maluku
Blue Lab overview
The Blue Lab operates as a field-based policy lab where research, teaching and partnerships are closely connected. We collaborate directly with communities, governments and partner organizations in Indonesia to test ideas, generate evidence and turn insights into policy and practice.
In a region where ocean governance is closely tied to livelihoods and development, effective solutions must be practical, locally grounded and scalable. The lab engages students, researchers and practitioners working to advance more sustainable and inclusive ocean management.
At its core, the Blue Lab is where ideas are tested in real-world conditions—connecting science, policy, and practice.
Join the Blue Lab
Whether you are an SFS graduate student, a student at GSAP or a professional in an executive education program, the Blue Lab is open to you year-round. There are two ways to participate:
Take a course
Sustainable Fisheries traces a commodity from ocean to plate, building your foundational understanding of tropical marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and coastal community livelihoods.
Join a research or project stream
Through research and project work, you will deepen your understanding of coastal community dynamics and the connection between science and policy. Depending on your project, you may also gain hands-on field experience — setting up community data systems, conducting applied research, writing policy briefs or developing science communication strategies.
You can join applied research across three pillars:
Work on democratizing ocean data and empowering communities as ocean stewards. Active projects include deep-sea data for marine conservation (in collaboration with the Blue Nature Alliance), community-based monitoring in mining-impacted areas (with Auriga), and co-management of seaweed and reef ecosystems (with Yayasan Du Anyam and Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana).
Help decision-makers, from government to consumers, choose wisely. Projects include a seafood price premium study, strategies to reduce fishing effort in Indonesia, and aligning non-tax state revenue targets with fisheries sustainability goals.
Tackle misinformation in ocean and fisheries policy through accessible science communication. Current work includes the Voices from the Coast Exhibition (with Institut Kesenian Jakarta) and op-ed and communications development.
Fieldwork locations
We conduct fieldwork across diverse regions of Indonesia, each offering distinct learning and research environments:
Jakarta
Indonesia’s capital serves as a dynamic living lab. As a major coastal city, Jakarta provides access to government institutions, research partners, and one of Southeast Asia’s largest fishing ports by footprint. Despite its urban setting, it faces pressing coastal challenges. We work closely with communities in North Jakarta to understand and map these issues, while developing projects that reinforce Jakarta’s identity as a coastal city—ensuring that coastal communities’ voices are not erased and that policies reflect the vital relationship between the city and the ocean.
Eastern Sumba
Our seaweed and coral reef initiatives are based in East Sumba, spanning four villages. Here, you’ll engage directly with community-based management of marine ecosystems, focusing on sustainable livelihoods and reef health.
North Maluku
While the project is still in the scoping stage, we aim to establish community-based data collection systems for communities impacted by mining in the North Maluku region.
Faculty
-
Elle WibisonoTechnical Director of Blue Labs & Research Fellow
Get involved
If you are interested in joining the research or project streams, contact the Blue Lab director to learn about available opportunities. Bahasa Indonesia is not required, but it is an advantage. These opportunities are open to all, with Georgetown University students eligible to receive academic credit.