Faculty member accepts invitation to present at United Nations Ocean Conference

Dr. Nina Adanin presented her research, “Climate Resilience Among Indigenous Peoples Living Near Glaciers and the Role of Mountain Tourism,” to an international audience and attended the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in June in Nice, France. (Submitted photo)

Dr. Nina Adanin, a Northwest Missouri State University assistant professor of recreation whose research interests explore the effects of climate change on sport management, tourism and recreation, recently presented findings in conjunction with attending the Third United Nations Ocean Conference.

Dr. Nina Adanin

Adanin was invited to present her research, “Climate Resilience Among Indigenous Peoples Living Near Glaciers and the Role of Mountain Tourism,” in June as part of an exhibition associated with UNOC3 in Nice, France. Adanin has studied how Indigenous communities living near glaciers are adapting to the changing climate and how tourism, particularly in mountain regions, can support or undermine those efforts.

Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, UNOC3 followed ocean summits in New York in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022 with an aim at fostering actions to conserve and sustainably use ocean, sea and marine resources. The gathering drew nearly 100,000 people, including more than 60 government leaders, and culminated with a shared call to expand marine protection, curb pollution, regulate the high seas, and unlock financing for vulnerable coastal and island nations.

Adanin said one of the highlights of attending the conference was hearing French President Emmanuel Macron and Audrey Azoulay, the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, deliver opening remarks. Macron stressed the urgency of collective action on climate change. Azoulay spoke about the importance of aligning science, finance and international cooperation to protect ice-covered regions.

Adanin plans to bring insights she took from the conference to courses she teaches at Northwest, particularly in sport management, tourism and recreation. Adanin hopes to integrate her observations of global leadership initiatives, Indigenous climate resilience strategies and the rise of environmentally conscious tourism to help students better understand how global environmental issues are reshaping the responsibilities of future sport and recreation managers.

“The conference made it clear that climate change is no longer a distant concern; it is already influencing how we plan, manage and deliver outdoor recreation and sport experiences,” she said. “These shifts have direct implications for sport management professionals, who are increasingly expected to incorporate sustainability practices, risk mitigation and community engagement into event planning and facility operations.”

Adanin joined the Northwest faculty in 2021. She has a Ph.D. in innovative learning design and technology with master’s degrees in educational research and evaluation and outdoor recreation and education, all from Ohio University. She also has bachelor’s degrees in sports management and sports coaching. Her academic interest includes sports recreation management and technology.