Globally significant ocean and polar governance research will be exchanged across continents thanks to the prestigious 2026–2027 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Awards announced this week.
University of Tasmania polar law expert, Professor Jeff McGee, will be heading to the USA to explore ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the polar south, while University of Massachusetts-Boston public policy student, Julia MacDonald, will be coming to Tasmania to study her Masters with us.
The Fulbright Program is the USA’s flagship foreign exchange scholarship program, which aims to increase binational research collaboration, cultural understanding, and the exchange of ideas.
Strengthening bilateral cooperation in the polar south
The Fulbright award recognises Professor Jeff McGee’s expertise in international law, climate change law and global environmental governance, and underscores the University’s strong contributions to globally significant research and policy engagement.
“My Fulbright project, Strengthening Australian and United States Cooperation in the Polar South, will examine pathways to enhance bilateral collaboration on Antarctic law, governance and policy,” said Professor McGee (pictured right), who works across the University’s Law Faculty and Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
“My research focuses on strategies that can help us govern Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, so this is an exciting opportunity for me to collaborate with fellow polar law experts in this area of growing global significance.”
Professor McGee will spend four months at the University of Maine School of Law in the vibrant coastal city of Portland, Maine USA. He will be hosted by Professor Charles Norchi, who is the Director of the Center for Oceans and Coastal Law and one of the USA’s foremost authorities in polar law.
He will also spend time in Washington D.C. engaging with leading policy stakeholders and academic experts, to advance international dialogue on Antarctic law and geopolitics.
Building expertise to influence policy
The University has also welcomed Fulbright Anne Wexler Scholarship in Public Policy recipient, Julia MacDonald (pictured right), who will be undertaking her Masters of Marine and Antarctic Science here in Tasmania.
"The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies’ internationally renowned Masters program, combined with Tasmania’s concentration of marine experts, novel policy ideas and early climate change effects, make this program ideal for my future as a scientifically informed policy maker in the US,” said Julia, whose Masters research will focus on ocean governance and policy.
“Because the oceans of Tasmania are warming at a faster rate than the oceans surrounding the US, studying ocean governance at IMAS will provide me with a glimpse into the future of the US – and how a country can adapt to climate change through science and policy.”
“During the second year of my Masters, I hope to research the intersection of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and disease prevalence in endangered seabirds.
"This research will inform future policy decisions in balancing the protection of endangered species with ocean usage as an economic resource.”
Julia will also be exploring the complex, international governance of Antarctica. “This will give me the unique qualifications to advocate for the US Department of State's interest in maintaining Antarctica as a haven for peace and science."
Professor Jeff McGee and Julia MacDonald joined their fellow award recipients at Parliament House in Canberra last week, to receive their awards and celebrate their success at the 2026 Fulbright Australia Gala Dinner and Presentation.
Cover image by Pier van der Merwe IMAS