The School of Biology and Ecology presents
Dr. Aaron Strong
University of Maine
Dr. Strong’s research focuses on studying the human dimensions of changing coastal and marine systems. He has a particular interest in the emergent problem of ocean and coastal acidification and mitigation and adaptation responses to this problem. Currently, several states in the Northeast have completed, are undergoing, are initiating, or are exploring formal governmental processes for assessing the threat of ocean and coastal acidification to our coastal ecosystems and economies. One tool in the toolbox to combat ocean acidification is the use of formal risk assessments which seek to identify hotspots of physical, chemical, biological and ecological exposure to acidification that are also areas of high social vulnerability and limited adaptive capacity to the impacts of acidification. In his work, Dr. Strong assesses the adaptive capacity around the Gulf of Maine to address ocean and coastal acidification and also identifies what regional and local concerns remain unaddressed by the use of standard risk assessment procedures, using the case study of Maine’s wild-harvest fisheries and aquaculture industry.