The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has announced that Associate Professor Eric Katovai, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), has been elected a Fellow of the Pacific Academy of Sciences (PAS).
He joins 12 other leading Pacific researchers and innovators who have been recognised by the Academy for their outstanding contributions to science, education, and leadership across the region.
Established in 2024 and based in Apia, Samoa, the Pacific Academy of Sciences brings together Pacific scholars and knowledge holders to strengthen regional research capacity and ensure that Pacific science and innovation inform global conversations.
The 2025 cohort includes eminent Pacific academics and leaders from medicine, ecology, mathematics, public health, gender studies, and higher education — with Associate Professor Katovai’s inclusion marking a growing recognition of Solomon Islands–based scholarship on the regional stage.
Speaking on his election, Associate Professor Katovai described the appointment as both “a recognition of scholarly contribution and a responsibility to serve the region through scientific leadership and mentorship.”
He added, “Becoming a Fellow means being part of a collective that values scientific excellence, integrity, and inclusivity in addressing Pacific challenges.
“The Academy has the potential to redefine the region’s scientific landscape by amplifying Pacific research, innovation, and knowledge sovereignty. Its impact lies in elevating our visibility globally and nurturing the next generation of Pacific scientists.”
Associate Professor Katovai is a terrestrial ecologist and higher education leader whose work sits at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, restoration ecology, and Pacific higher education development.
As Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at SINU, he oversees academic quality, research and postgraduate studies, curriculum development, and the University’s regional and international partnerships.
Beyond his leadership role, he is actively engaged in several regional and multi-partner research initiatives that advance Pacific-led science.
His work on forest and ecosystem recovery, restoration, and monitoring in the Pacific explores how tropical and island forest systems recover after disturbance, and how traditional ecological knowledge can inform conservation, sustainable land use, and the monitoring of spatial–temporal changes in natural forests across Melanesia.
He also contributes to restoration and livelihoods research that connects ecosystem recovery to community benefits, food security, and resilience — ensuring that environmental science delivers tangible outcomes for Pacific peoples.
Through the Pacific Women Lead (PWL) research stream on women’s leadership and gender equity, he collaborates with regional colleagues to build evidence on barriers and enablers to women’s advancement in universities and public institutions, particularly within STEM fields.
He also maintains active collaboration with local research and conservation organisations in Solomon Islands, including Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands (ESSI) — a vibrant team of ecologists and biodiversity experts at the forefront of nature conservation in the country — to help connect research, national conservation priorities, and community-based environmental management.
In addition, Associate Professor Katovai works closely with regional universities and agencies to strengthen research training, postgraduate supervision, and locally led science in Small Island Developing States.
Importantly, he is a strong supporter of the Pacific Islands Universities Research Network (PIURN) and its efforts to connect Pacific universities, promote south–south collaboration, and ensure that research agendas reflect Pacific priorities rather than external ones.
Through all of these platforms, he has consistently advocated that Pacific science must be led from the Pacific, rooted in local contexts, and made visible on global platforms — which is precisely the mission PAS was established to advance.
Significance of Being a Fellow of the Pacific Academy of Sciences
Election as a Fellow of the Pacific Academy of Sciences (PAS) represents one of the highest honours bestowed on a scientist or academic in the region. It signifies recognition by peers for outstanding contributions to research, innovation, and scientific leadership that advance knowledge and serve society.
Fellows of PAS are acknowledged not only for the excellence of their research but also for their commitment to mentoring emerging scientists, strengthening scientific capacity in the Pacific, and promoting the ethical and inclusive practice of science.
They play an important role in shaping regional and global conversations on sustainability, climate resilience, biodiversity, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary science.
Becoming a Fellow therefore carries both prestige and responsibility. It affirms a scholar’s achievements while entrusting them with a continuing role as a leader, mentor, and advocate for science that is locally grounded, globally relevant, and transformative for Pacific communities.
SINU’s leadership has warmly welcomed the announcement, noting that this honour underscores the University’s growing role as a national and regional knowledge institution.
Associate Professor Katovai’s appointment will help raise SINU’s research profile, strengthen partnerships with other Pacific universities and development partners, and create new opportunities for Solomon Islanders to engage in postgraduate research, innovation, and leadership in science.
The 13 new Fellows of the Pacific Academy of Sciences will be formally inducted at the Academy’s inaugural Congress, to be held from 16–18 February 2026 in Apia, Samoa.
- SINU Press
