Dr. Deborah Brosnan is the founder of Deborah Brosnan and Associates, a firm dedicated to finding smart solutions for environmental risks. Growing up in coastal Ireland, Dr. Brosnan knew she wanted to be a marine biologist from a young age. In today’s episode she shares what coastal sustainability looks like and why living shorelines are some of the best defenses we have against climate change. Deborah Brosnan also shares what it’s like being caught unawares diving while a volcano erupts!
Connect with Deborah: website
Quick Links
Galway University
NOAA
University of Oregon PhD
Island of Monserrat Volcanic Eruption
Deborah Brosnan & Associates
Dune system
Elkhorn and staghorn coral crop rows
Corals of opportunity
Coral nursery
Coral fragmentation
2015 Caribbean bleaching event
Huffington Post articles by Deborah Brosnan
Mangroves
Project AWARE Dive against Debris
Scistarter citizen science
Surfrider foundation
Green Flash
Show Notes
4:08 Deborah talks about how she values “taking the scenic route” in her career, before getting her PhD she took the time to work in different areas and explore a variety of fields
5:25 There are so many opportunities available for study in the US for marine biology and more than that, a lot of people interested in ocean conservation
6:15 What’s it like to be diving underwater when a volcano erupts? During a research expedition on Montserrat, Brosnan and her team find themselves in the pitch black while diving. Nonetheless, she takes advantage of the opportunity by putting out sediment traps and finds out how tree corals vs round corals respond to volcanic ash in the water
13:05 Flying back to the states from an academic trip to Indonesia, Brosnan finds herself in a plane crash during a hurricane! She reflects on how important it is to recognize nature during this pivotal moment in her life.
17:15 The philosophy behind her own firm, Deborah Brosnan & Associates and the importance of engaging people who have different priorities in nature-based solutions
30:05 How to align with nature: the important role nature plays in protecting us as humans and how Brosnan’s firm restores reefs, mangroves and marshes. Before anything else, figuring out how these ecosystems function is important.
33:37 How to get stakeholders involved and collaborating- Understanding that people want to be heard when it comes to environmental decision making is HUGE.
Step 1) Listen Step 2) Make people know that they’ve been heard Step 3) What is it that people have said that resonates with each other Getting people together in a framework of respect
37: Conservation ask: Become a citizen scientist! To better preserve our planet and conserve our natural resources, we need people gathering scientific information. Everybody is born a scientist!
41:30 Crazy field story: running out of gas in the middle of the ocean!
43:20 Brosnan discusses the green light phenomenon and how much she appreciates looking out for it at the end of a long day in the field.