Overview

We have partnered with several international research projects who are excited to embed GSS Scholars and Fellows in their projects. Successful candidates will be matched with partner organizations focused on sustainable oceans research. In addition, we have a unique opportunity for a Fellow to join a network of Sustainable Consumption and Production Researchers. Over the ten-weeks (May 15 – July 21, 2023), GSS will come together as a cohort and then travel to their host site to engage in research and build their professional networks. Below we have listed brief abstracts of the projects that GSS Scholars and Fellows could join, their locations, and the skills that projects are looking for.

No Crises #1

Project abstract: The NoCRISES project is an international collaborative effort to explore ocean resource conflicts with the aim to identify management strategies that enable a fair and sustainable use of ocean resources and services. In the Hawaiian case study, participants will explore management in the context of indigenous small-scale fisheries.

Responsibilities: Develop survey instruments with the PIs and oversee data collection among Hawaiian fishers, fishery managers, NGOs, and community members to inform a cultural consensus analysis and a multi-criteria analysis. Individuals will assist with data collection and conduct a literature review of multi-criteria analysis and cultural consensus analysis for conflict assessments.

Skills: Sound knowledge of quantitative data social science methods, knowledge of working with indigenous small-scale fisheries, experience working on coastal challenges in Hawaii. Scholars: Background in social science, motivation to work with indigenous small-scale fisheries.

Future Earth - Ocean KAN

Project abstract: The Ocean Knowledge Action Network is working to facilitate the co-design of ocean science for sustainable development. The project’s goal seeks to map out who is most affected by ocean change, how should we prioritize these impacts, who can make decisions to address ocean changes or its impacts, what science and data are likely needed to inform these decisions, what scientists are available locally to address these issues, what scientific capacity remains to be secured, and who could fund such co-designed science.

Responsibilities: Participants will help to organize an in-person or remote workshop addressing the mission of the project and produce a co-designed roadmap of opportunities for co-design of ocean science proposals for funding and for UN Decade of Ocean Science endorsement.

Skills: Familiarity with Google Workspace, Google Sites, and other Google products. Special language skills are a benefit.

Marisco

Project abstract: The MARISCO project establishes the fundamental foundations of linking social science knowledge of values derived from the environment with ecological data of biodiversity change. The project’s participants would assist in collecting and collating information on Wadden Sea NCPs from existing literature sources as well as secondary data via stakeholder interviews and workshops.

Responsibilities: Participants will complete literature reviews of biodiversity-stability relationships in connection to NCPs. Participants will also analyze data using a synthesis matrix to gather a quantitative assessment of NCPs sea monitoring data.

Skills: Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, prior experience conducting literature reviews, prior experience conducting stakeholder interviews, German proficiency is preferred but not required.

Coast Card

Project abstract: The Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation is developing a stakeholder-driven tool that monitors, forecasts, and reports the effectiveness of management decisions on coastal and ocean sustainability. The student participant will work with a multinational team of scientists and will assist in socio-environmental report card development, system dynamics modeling, and social network analysis for sites in the Chesapeake Bay, United States; Manila Bay, Philippines; Tokyo Bay and Sekisei Lagoon, Japan; and the Goa coast of India.

Responsibilities: Participants will be tasked with analysis of potential environmental, socio-economic, and socio-environmental justice indicators as well as analysis of preliminary system dynamics model for the Potomac watershed.

Skills: Analytical Skills, GIS/spatial analysis, ethnographic methods, R programming language, Adobe Creative Suite would be helpful.

VR(Ex)Change

Project abstract: The VR(Ex)Change network-of-networks is an NSF-funded project to integrate and align global research and practice of sustainable consumption (SC) and sustainable production (SP). Currently, SC and SP are fields that have become separate but complementary fields of research and practice. As a hub for 10 international research networks, VR(Ex)Change addresses pressing environmental and human well-being needs that cannot be addressed by a single group or set of disciplines, alone. Key objectives are to increase the capacity and participation of diverse early-career SC & SP researchers and professionals, and to develop a strategic roadmap for continued U.S. leadership in the global sustainability and circular economy agendas. The successful candidate will receive membership in the VR(Ex)Change as an early-career researcher, including related benefits and opportunities.

Responsibilities: 1) Digital Communications: Develop digital communications strategy and content, including the launch of the VR(Ex) Change’s digital presence, and support creation and maintenance of social media engagement tools and science communications platforms. 2) Managing Workshop: Develop interactive agenda, content, systems, and methods for the kick-off global VR(Ex)Change network-of-networks workshop, including coordination with workshop organizers.

Skills: Demonstrated knowledge and experience designing communications and engagement strategies for scientific projects for both virtual and in-person formats, including effective use of digital media tools and platforms. Knowledge of sustainability priorities in the context of production and consumption systems, including concepts of just transition, circular economy, net zero, net positive, Industry 4.0, and sufficiency.

ARMS Restore

Project Description: Coral reefs and seagrass beds are crucial habitat structures and valuable ecosystems on Earth. They protect shoreline erosion and infrastructures, provide complex habitats for species-rich communities, and food and income for approximately 1 billion people. In southwest Madagascar, coastal communities are more relied upon coral reefs for food and income than in most coastal areas of the world. The multi-year drought occurring in the region has depleted already low agricultural production, driving a large migration of people to the coasts in search of food from the sea. The ARMS Restore Project aims at rebuilding coral reefs in Madagascar using a new tool (ARMS) to restore biodiversity, build fisheries, and improve human health. The ARMS, secured to the seafloor passively accumulates most reef biodiversity. We will collect the reef biodiversity from healthy reefs using the ARMS, then move them to limestone artificial reefs. ARMS are expected to contribute the species necessary to turn artificial reefs into vibrant coral reef ecosystems, and consequently to increase the fisheries yields and improve human health. Student projects may vary between social science projects assessing community health, diet, and ecological health associated with the reefs in the nearshore habitat.

Responsibilities: Participants will be tasked with assisting with data collection, project design, community engagement, analysis of potential environmental indicators and social parameters as well as analysis of preliminary data and presenting results.

Skills: It is preferred if the applicant has a background in marine ecology, the ability to work in the lab, stay in a remote village, and scuba dive. If scuba certification is not attainable prior to the research the applicant can work closely with the research crew on other aspects of the research or focus on eelgrass beds. Analytical Skills include GIS/spatial analysis, QGIS, CPCE, IMAGE J, R studio

 *Some experience with French preferred.

A special thanks to our 2023 sponsors: