Environmental problems unique to islands will be in the spotlight at a marine science lecture series.

The problems of islands and their special difficulties will be discussed at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s BUEI Talks: Island SOS, sponsored by insurance giant Chubb.

Karla Lacey, the chief executive officer of the BUEI, said: “Bermuda’s ecosystem is an integral part of our identity as a country and we appreciate Chubb’s support in funding this informative, educational series.

“Through these talks we hope to learn about different techniques being used by other island nations that may be beneficial in safeguarding our unique ecosystem, or potentially provide the inspiration for a new method specific to Bermuda’s environment.”

The first Island SOS presentation at the end of the month will feature the Philippines and the more than seven thousand islands in its archipelago.

Anna Oposa, the executive director of Save Philippine Seas, will talk about her organisation’s plan to manage ocean waste and ensure environmental sustainability.

Islands such as Sri Lanka and Hawaii, as well as several Caribbean islands, will also be featured in the series.

Samantha Froud, the chief administration officer at Chubb and a member of the firm’s island green team, said: “Chubb is proud to be the sponsor of the BUEI talk series.

“This event aligns with Chubb’s mission to promote a healthy and sustainable planet, strengthen the resilience of communities and protect biodiversity against the effects of climate change.

“We are delighted to help further awareness throughout our community about ocean sustainability initiatives and to encourage everyone to help safeguard the health of the ocean surrounding our beautiful island.”

The presentations will be held each month and cover topics such as beach management, zero-waste planning and the influence of environmental factors on legislation.

A BUEI spokeswoman said: “We are excited to have this opportunity to present these talks to the community and are pleased to be opening the series with the Philippines.

“Though geographically distant, Bermuda shares many similarities with the Philippines such as seasonal hurricanes and being a habitat for a number of marine sea turtles.”

The presentation will highlight how Bermuda sticks to the three United Nations sustainable development goals – making human settlements environmentally sustainable, preserving and safely utilising oceans and marine resources and finding ways for countries around the world to collaborate to be more eco-friendly.

The talks will be held in BUEI’s Tradewinds Auditorium, with overseas guest speakers appearing online.

The presentations will be live-streamed on the BUEI’s YouTube Channel and will be available to the public after a discussion period.

The first presentation will be held on February 26 at 2pm. Dates for other presentations will be announced in the future.

Tickets can be purchased at BUEI on Crow Lane, near Hamilton, or by e-mail to info@buei.bm.

They can also be bought by calling the BUEI gift shop at 294-0204.

Tickets for non-members start at $20 and members can buy tickets for $15.