Our work focuses on science that connects people with their world, and that serves society. Our efforts are multi-faceted and comprise several main themes. For clarity, we've divided our work into the following themes, but in reality we try to integrate them into every project. We recognize that among the pressing problems today are building resilience in the face of natural hazards, extreme-events, and communicating science to users in order that the knowledge is translated into awareness and action.
Ocean Ecosystems
Oceans are a key focus of the Brosnan Center, and the passion driving Dr. Brosnan and many of her colleagues. Understanding and conserving the world's oceans is a thread that binds much of the work at the Center. Today, our seas face a multitude of escalating threats; strong scientific work coupled with innovative thinking and action is needed at all levels. The Brosnan Center's work on ocean ecosystems consists of multi-disciplinary study, including work on the intersection of ocean science, law, and policy, and the efforts of scientists in the field to test solutions to ocean issues.
Currently, the Center is in session and working on ocean ecosystems in St. Barthelemy.
Currently, the Center is in session and working on ocean ecosystems in St. Barthelemy.
Integrating Science to Solve Pressing Problems
Through strategic convening we unite science, scientists with decision-makers and stakeholders to solve pressing problems. From endangered species to building coastal resilience against extreme events from tsunamis to hurricanes, to designing the ecosystems we want for our future, we engage the science with the actions. Find examples of our previous projects here.
We create innovative teams. In our work, we find that physicists, ecologists, neurobiologists, engineers, and economists, amongst others, are often asking the same questions; they are just not aware of it. By uniting visionary thinkers from diverse disciplines, we can help to develop a shared understanding of the world and a stronger communal response to society's questions. For example, by integrating ecology, veterinary medicine and human healthcare, the Center is working on the relationship between wildlife and human health. Additionally, we are working with academic environmental lawyers, policy makers, and others on integrating environmental science and law. We're exploring how science and law discover truth, how scientific and legal standards differ, and how we can train students to be fluent in science, law, and policy in order to respond to societies needs. Dr. Brosnan characterizes these concepts in her teaching of interactive workshops to appellate justices and environmental law students, and in her direction of students at the Center. She co-teaches marine law and science at the NW School of Law at Lewis and Clark College Portland, Oregon with legal faculty. Strategic convening of multi-disciplinary teams to develop frameworks, plans, and solutions are part of our focus and work.
We create innovative teams. In our work, we find that physicists, ecologists, neurobiologists, engineers, and economists, amongst others, are often asking the same questions; they are just not aware of it. By uniting visionary thinkers from diverse disciplines, we can help to develop a shared understanding of the world and a stronger communal response to society's questions. For example, by integrating ecology, veterinary medicine and human healthcare, the Center is working on the relationship between wildlife and human health. Additionally, we are working with academic environmental lawyers, policy makers, and others on integrating environmental science and law. We're exploring how science and law discover truth, how scientific and legal standards differ, and how we can train students to be fluent in science, law, and policy in order to respond to societies needs. Dr. Brosnan characterizes these concepts in her teaching of interactive workshops to appellate justices and environmental law students, and in her direction of students at the Center. She co-teaches marine law and science at the NW School of Law at Lewis and Clark College Portland, Oregon with legal faculty. Strategic convening of multi-disciplinary teams to develop frameworks, plans, and solutions are part of our focus and work.
Building Resilience: Environmental Disasters, Extreme Events
Environmental disasters are increasing rapidly and the consequences are drastic. In 2006, economic costs totaled sixty-three and a half billion dollars. In 2008, an estimated two-hundred-and-one million people were affected by an environmental disaster, a forty percent increase in just two years. These figures don't even begin to account for the impact on species and ecosystems integrity. Experts predict that there is worse still to come. From the 2004 tsunami in Asia, to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Brosnan Center is investigating scientific and human impacts and responses to environmental disasters, as well as how to plan for the future to minimize these impacts.
UPDATE: Coming soon, editorial on Resilience in Journal of Marine Biology and Oceanography.
Deborah Brosnan joins tsunami scenario team, working on integrating ecological/environment into disaster risk reduction and response.
Center involved with Japan earthquake and tsunami: impacts of debris on natural resources, and people. Planning and response. GO HERE FOR DETAILS AND RESOURCES.
UPDATE: Coming soon, editorial on Resilience in Journal of Marine Biology and Oceanography.
Deborah Brosnan joins tsunami scenario team, working on integrating ecological/environment into disaster risk reduction and response.
Center involved with Japan earthquake and tsunami: impacts of debris on natural resources, and people. Planning and response. GO HERE FOR DETAILS AND RESOURCES.
Future Planning in a Changing World
You can't build a home without a plan. One must take into account all of the necessary elements, from structural stability, to design, furnishings, landscaping and cost. Furthermore, if a family builds a home each member contributes opinions that affect the final design. Yet when it comes to ecosystems and natural resources, we don't often apply the same stringent and inclusive approach. We rarely consider cost, but as we've seen, nature doesn't have an insurance policy for our actions. At the Center, we are testing ways of restoring habitats by looking forward and using a "designing the future" approach that integrates the needs of ecosystems with the needs and wishes of the community. Today, this is being tested in St. Barths.
© 2010 by Dr. Deborah Brosnan. All rights reserved.