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E-IPER Dissertation Defense: Ryan O’Connor
May 5 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Please join us for an E-IPER dissertation defense by Ryan O’Connor, who will present “Human Dimensions of Ocean Governance: Enhancing Social and Ecological Knowledge through Equitable Community Inclusion”!
In-person: Hartley Conference Center (Mitchell Building)
Virtual: Zoom webinar
ABSTRACT
As climate change and human activities transform ocean ecosystems at unprecedented rates, interdisciplinary approaches that center the human dimensions of marine social-ecological systems have become increasingly essential for effective ocean sustainability and governance. The ways in which humans interact with, learn from, and value ocean ecosystems are dynamic and varied. In this dissertation, I examine how human individuals and communities participate in the science and governance of marine systems, illuminating how diverse perspectives and sources of knowledge can contribute to holistic management decision making. In Chapter 1, I provide an overview of marine social sciences, demonstrating this interdisciplinary field’s capacity to illuminate human-ocean relationships while advocating for stronger integration into broader ocean sustainability frameworks. Chapter 2 focuses specifically on the human dimension of participation through a systematic literature review that reveals the many ways in which communities engage in ocean governance and the resulting impacts on power dynamics. Chapter 3 examines a case study of dedicated community scientists who actively shape coastal governance through a longstanding program of volunteer collection and sharing of marine mammal abundance data. In Chapter 4, I expand beyond data collection to show that community scientists fulfill multiple vital roles within social-ecological systems—generating knowledge, educating communities, and supporting environmental regulation enforcement. Together, this dissertation highlights the critical importance of understanding coastal communities and honoring their lived experiences, perspectives, and knowledge systems as we design more equitable and effective approaches to ocean governance.