About

Dr. Kirsten Grorud-Colvert is a marine ecologist and Associate Professor - Senior Research at Oregon State University, where she has studied ocean places along the U.S. West and Southeast Coasts and around the world.

 

She uses data from different species, habitats, and local communities to ask: What happens when you protect an area in the ocean? And what can we learn from those areas to design even better protection for nature and the people who depend on it?

 

In addition to her research, she directs the Science of Marine Reserves Project and co-leads The MPA Guide, which share science about marine protected areas (MPAs) in collaboration with partners worldwide.

 

Kirsten is also inspired by people’s stories about why the ocean matters to them; she helps to archive these with the Tales from the Sea storytelling project.