Hi there! My name is Sara (she/her/hers) and I'm a Project Scientist at the Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) at University of California, Santa Barbara. I'm interested in the role of data and technology in supporting decision-making, improving marine conservation, and enhancing sustainable and equitable fisheries. I love surfing, camping, reading, and used to work as a PADI Divemaster in Thailand and the Bahamas 🌊 🤿.

Currently:

• 🔭 Investigating how big data can support sustainable fisheries by leveraging satellite-based vessel tracking (i.e. Automatic Identification Systems), Electronic Monitoring, and Synthetic Aperature Radar in research related to bycatch mitigation, fisheries transparency, and protected area design

  • Check out emLab's GitHub for repositories related to our published research

• 🖥️ Developing and improving workflows that integrate R, SQL, BigQuery, and Google Cloud Computing

• 🗺️ Collaborating with Global Fishing Watch to provide support to emLab projects and other partners seeking to use satellite data products in their research

Previous:

• 🐟 Ocean Health Index fellow at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, working with partners at the Nature Conservancy to complete an Ocean Health Index (OHI) assessment of Palmyra Atoll
• 🐠 Oceanographic intern with the Coral Reef Advisory Group collecting and analyzing data to develop a management plan for coral reefs in the National Park of American Samoa

• Masters of Environmental Science and Management: Bren School at UC Santa Barbara (2020)
• B.S. Zoology: Oregon State University (2014)