The Executive Director for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo has stressed the need for students to venture into Marine Science Advancement.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in a move to strengthen collaboration between academic and environmental institutions, Dr. Urey calls attention to Liberia’s lack of capacity in the field of marine science.
He said, Liberia is a marine country yet the country is incapacitated, as such students show lack of interest.
“Our ocean territory is vast and full of potential, yet we are critically undercapacitated in marine science,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “To find students pursuing this field in Liberia is difficult, and that’s something we must change,” he disclosed.
Dr Urey stated that the newly dedicated, state-of-the-art environmental laboratory was not built only for the EPA but as a national resource for institutions, researchers, and students to explore and innovate.
He said, the facility will provide services such as air and water quality testing, soil analysis, hazardous material detection, and future marine ecosystem research.
Dr. Yarkpawolo also revealed that the EPA is working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) laboratory in Monaco, which has committed to supporting the lab through the donation of equipment and advanced training.
“This partnership with the IAEA will help us build a true center of excellence right here in Liberia. Our students, researchers, and environmental professionals deserve access to world-class resources,” he said.
Meanwhile, UL President, Dr. Layli Maparyan, expressed excitement for the progress made at the Environmental Protection Agency emphasized the need to expose Liberian students to real career pathways early in their academic journey adding that the university is working to build the capacity of some its faculty members abroad for training in environmental and marine science so they can return and help strengthen the academic programs in these areas.
“We are about to welcome a new class of freshmen at the University of Liberia. And it’s not just about coming to school, it’s about understanding the trajectory of a career,” she said. “I want students to walk in with purpose, and part of that requires exposure to institutions like the EPA.”
