“Wildfires don’t stop at the coastline,” Christine Lee writes. Christine co-authored two papers, one with Marisol Cira as lead author, examining the impacts of the Woolsey Fire on Southern California coastal waters.
The Ocean Knowledge Action Network community created a bespoke “workshop focused on the sharing of Indigenous knowledge and academic science by Indigenous academics,” and described the success of the approach in a December 2025 paper in ICES Journal of Marine Science.
Manta and devil rays are among the ocean’s most threatened species — and bycatch in tropical tuna purse seine fisheries is an important source of mortality. Melissa Cronin recently published results from a study working directly with tuna...
Luis Alexis Rodríguez-Cruz co-facilitated a workshop imagining a collaborative future around equitable access to local fish in the Puerto Rican community of Culebra and beyond.
“I am thrilled to be returning to my roots in New England to join a public university and a department that shares my commitment to innovative and impact-focused research, teaching, and practice in marine fisheries and conservation.”
Mukta Kelkar is a marine ecologist who bridges foundational ecology with applied conservation and social science in order to inform marine conservation approaches for a changing climate.
Eric Medina studies how coastal wetland restoration can improve habitat, protect urban spaces, and increase access to green space. He is excited about the opportunities climate adaptation presents for envisioning futures that prioritize both the ecological systems California’s cities rely on and the daily quality of life for people.
Jonisha Aubain researches the design, construction, and techno-economic analysis of tidal energy technology for application in isolated island communities. Her goal is to increase technical opportunity for enhancing local energy systems with emphasis on community involvement and independence.
Bryan Plankenhorn (Port Gamble S’Klallam) is an Indigenous scientist exploring harmful algal bloom drivers and reintroducing Indigenous narratives and knowledge into marine resource management. They are deeply committed to supporting Indigenous communities across the United States by amplifying Indigenous perspectives in scientific research and federal policy.
This initiative is designed to empower and support youth from marginalized communities in the San Francisco Estuary region to become influential leaders in the planning, management, and decision-making of the estuary.
