Speaker: Heather Deese, Vice President of Research and Strategy, Island Institute

In response to community requests for more and better data and analyses, the Island Institute launched a new initiative in January 2016 to work through partnerships to ensure local leaders have the social, economic, and environmental information they need. This seminar will present a sneak peek at a first project – the new Maine Coast and Island Community Indicators publication that will be published at the end of October 2016. The Indicators are designed to help people understand the character of our communities and the challenges facing the Maine coast. The seminar will also highlight a series of questions that community members are asking across a range of topics. Are our young people receiving the education they need? What are the most realistic options for diversifying our lobster-dependent local economy? What are the smartest investments we can make as a community to help this happen? Will our drinking water be impacted by sea level rise? If so, when? What can we do about it? We are looking for researchers to work with us to help answer these and many other questions through collaborative, community-based projects.

Dr. Heather Deese is Vice President of Research and Strategy at Island Institute. In this role, she works with community members and researchers to design and undertake collaborative, multi-disciplinary research that meets communities’ need for information. She is also responsible for bringing to bear data and analyses to inform Island Institute’s long-term planning and investments. Dr. Deese joined the Island Institute in 2009 and has previously served as VP of Programs and VP of Development. Her background is in oceanographic research and the translation, communication, and application of scientific understanding for practical purposes, including marine policy and resource management with government agencies, non-profits, and marine industry. Her research has spanned laboratory, observational, and field studies, during which she has spent over five months at sea, including surveys off Antarctica, the North Sea, and many places in between. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maine, an M.S. from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution & Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a B.S. from Georgetown University. Dr. Deese is an adjunct professor at University of Maine School of Marine Sciences.