(7/2020) Key impacts of COVID-19 on Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response. LINK HERE [PDF] Our new open access paper in Food Security, led by colleagues at University of Sydney, explores and identifies trade and development scenarios with the goal to ultimately strengthen Pacific food systems.

(6/2020) I was awarded TWO supplementary grants for my work in Kiribati this month! One from The Explorer Club which will focus on media-based storytelling and conservation and the other from the UCSB Academic Senate with my advisor Doug McCauley relating to fisheries dynamics and human health. The funding will extend our work into 2021. Some much needed positive news during pandemics of disease and racism. Hopefully the rest of the year will see us all in a better place.

(2/2020, Kiritimati) We really enjoyed spending time at the Line Islands hub and were very lucky to make the trip - our flight was the last plane allowed into the country due to preemptive, and successful, COVID-19 restrictions. Now, after a great research trip, our team will fly in three different directions during a global pandemic back to our respective homes - wish us luck. Left to Right: Keegan Bell, Toaea Teawatei, and myself.

(2/2020, Tabuaeran) We arrived to the Line Islands for the first time and were greeted with fantastic weather. I am organising meetings with the Island Council and local staff now. We are going to be training two new MFMRD fisheries officers who will join us this trip. Excited to meet them!

(12/2019, Tabiteuea North) The team and I just moved from Tab South to Tab North and were greeted with an unexpected surprise.. coral bleaching. Due to this, I am going to change the field plans so we can stay longer to document the coral bleaching and mortality. Check instagram for updates.

(12/2019, Tabiteuea South) I was really excited to visit this island due to its size and long islet system, which produces enormous sand flats. Sampling the benthic community doesn’t always mean you need a dive mask. When the sand flats are exposed, it’s always extremely rewarding because the local kids come out and want to know about our work.. using hand signals, of course!

(10/2019, Onotoa) Aranteiti Tekiau (MFMRD) conducts a SWATH invertebrate survey at one of my fore-reef sampling sites. Giant clam spotted! We had fantastic visibility and great conditions at this island.

(9/2019, Boston, MA) All 5 of the Primary Investigators for the Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health NSF project met in Boston this year for our annual planning meeting and workshop. Our most productive yet, and it was over the weekend! Left to Right: Jacob Eurich, Jessica Gephart, Chris Golden, Katy Seto, and Doug McCauley.

(7/2019, Abemama) Now conducting research at Abemama, one of our medium developed islands in the Central Gilberts. Sunsets are spent watching and learning from local subsistence fishers. Catch today is mantis shrimp!

(7/2019, Butaritari) My field assistant Keegan Bell and I have been getting good at conducting soft infaunal quadrats. Digging for clams and snails like the locals do - except we are NOT built for this equator sun!

(7/2019, Butaritari) The team and I are in the northern most island in the Gilbert Chain, Butaritari. Ecological sampling is going fantastic and we are meeting with the Island Mayor tomorrow to discuss fisheries governance and community-based fisheries management.

(6/2019, North Tarawa) It has been incredible to integrate into the communities here while we conduct our research. This is what it is all about!

(5/2019, Abaiang) First stop for outer island research is Abaiang. This island is a little north of Tarawa. Pictured is our accomodation and the fisherman with our dinner! Time to collect some data!

(5/2019, South Tarawa) Landed and participated in the Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development’s National Coastal Fisheries Summit . My presentation was titled: Healthy reefs, healthy I-Kiribati: Leaping together toward sustainable fisheries for a vibrant economy of Kiribati.

(2/2019, Santa Barbara) Titan triggerfish paper submitted to Marine Biodiversity! Fingers crossed for a timely and fair review. Email me for a sneak-peak.

(1/2019, Santa Barbara) Stable isotope analysis reveals trophic diversity and partitioning in territorial damselfishes on a low-latitude coral reef. The doi link is here.

(11/2018 Santa Barbara) Entire NSF research team gets together (i.e. including Doug!) to start planning fieldwork and research design. NSF proposal here.

(11/2018 Nadi, Fiji) First in-person meeting between Kiribati Government Agencies, the Pacific Community, Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Cruz, and University of Wollongong (ANCORS). Exciting to get this project off the ground. Read more about our initiative here.

(11/2018 Denarau, Fiji) Our research team and collaborators discuss regional discourse on Planetary Health. We highlighted our case study in Kiribati, recent developments and addressed possible next steps. More about the meetings here.