The international community has just concluded negotiations for a new treaty to govern 'Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction' (BBNJ). The treaty promises environmental protection and economic justice, but its implementation depends almost entirely on actions by the marine scientific community. Elizabeth Mendenhall, Assistant Professor of Marine Affairs, has written extensively on the negotiations and the final treaty. In this talk, she reviews the basics of the new treaty, focusing on the requirements, opportunities, and critical needs for marine scientific research.