Vanja Avdic
Vanja completed a Master of Resource and Environmental Management at Dalhousie University after earning both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa. Drawn to the intersection of ecology, sustainability, and environmental policy, she joined the EI:UI research team to explore how scientific knowledge informs policy and strategies. Her work contributed to advancing the understanding of the science-policy interface and strategies for strengthening the use of environmental information.
François Bregha
François completed a Master of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies after earning a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Political Science from the University of Guelph. His experience with Parks Ontario and the Canadian Museum of Nature’s malacology lab prompted an interest in understanding the link between management and ecosystems using molluscs as a prime indicator. Through EI:UI, his research examined how scientific knowledge on ocean acidification can support adaptive management and policy for Nova Scotia’s shellfish industries.
Melissa E. Cano
Melissa completed a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Panama. Originally from Panama, she has long been interested in marine conservation and the sustainable management of ocean resources. As a member of the EI:UI research team, Melissa explored how marine information is used and communicated to support fishery management and marine policy in her home country.
Diana Castillo
Diana completed a Master of Library and Information Studies at Dalhousie University, where her thesis was conducted in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and EI:UI examining the use of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts. Before pursuing graduate studies, Diana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Latin American Studies at Smith College and worked in public policy advocacy. Following graduation, she joined Oregon State University Libraries as a Data Librarian.
Sarah Chamberlain
Sarah completed a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University after earning a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph. Her previous experience included fisheries observation for the Pacific Trawl Fishing Fleet, aquarium education, and fisheries research for Fisheries and Ocean Canada. Through her work at EI:UI, Sarah examined how scientific information can strengthen connections between the marine environment and effective public policy making in Canada. She later joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada as an Intelligence Analyst.
Ruth Cordes
Ruth holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics from Dalhousie University, a Master of Science in Physics (Oceanography) from the University of British Columbia, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Dalhousie. As one of EI:UI’s early researchers, she conducted citation analyses of publications from the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), earning several national and international awards for her work. She later continued her research on the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC) before becoming Managing Editor of the Canadian Public Documents Collection in the Canadian Electronic Library.
Danielle Cossarini
Danielle completed a Master of Library and Information Science at Dalhousie University. Her interests in environmental information, knowledge dissemination, and public policy led her to join the EI:UI research team. Her research focused primarily on the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC) case study examining how environmental information supports policy development.
Colleen Delany
Colleen completed Dalhousie University’s combined Master of Public Administration and Master of Library and Information Science program. Drawing on experience in both municipal government and information management, she joined EI:UI to explore the role of information on policy and behaviour. Her interdisciplinary background and interest in environmental information contributed to the team’s research on the science-policy interface and evidence-informed decision-making.
Kalene Eck
Kalene completed a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University as a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship recipient. Originally from Belize, she previously earned an Associate’s degree from St. John’s Junior College and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Galen University before joining the Belize Fisheries Department as an Assistant Fisheries Officer. Her work with fisheries and coastal communities included assessing Belize’s spiny lobster and queen conch fisheries, which inspired her interest in EI:UI, the science-policy interface, and collaborative approaches to ocean and coastal management.
Gregory Hutton
Gregory completed a Master of Library and Information Science at Dalhousie University, where his thesis evolved from his work with the EI:UI research group. Using the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) as a case study, Gregory’s research examined how multiple information sources can be used to better understand the influence of marine environmental grey literature.
Lisa Long
Lisa completed the Master of Information program at Dalhousie University while working as a Data Curator with Pharm3r. Driven by a passion for helping others and gaining new knowledge, she joined EI:UI to explore how scientific information can be used to inform policy. Her research contributed to the team’s work exploring the role of environmental information in evidence-informed decision-making.
Curtis Martin
Curtis completed a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University after earning a combined degree in Earth and Ocean Sciences and Biology from the University of Victoria. Although trained in the natural sciences, his interests shifted toward the social dimensions of climate change and ocean governance. Through EI:UI, Curtis examined how social media can be used to communicate scientific research to diverse audiences. Following graduation, he worked with the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) in communications and project management.
Shelby McLean
Shelby completed a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University after earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Her background in coastal food web ecology and research on Nova Scotian salt marsh meiofauna sparked an interest in coastal ecosystems and climate change. Through EI:UI, Shelby explored how environmental information, particularly coastal atlases, can support climate change adaption and coastal hazard planning.
Hali Moreland
Hali completed a degree in Marine Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland before earning a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University. Her graduate research with the EI:UI team examined the use of information in public consultation processes for marine conservation. Following her studies, Hali joined Parks Canada where she supports the conservation and stewardship of Canada’s ocean environments.
Simon-Luc Noel
Simon-Luc completed a Master of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies. His academic and professional experiences has spanned global fisheries datasets, science communication, and environmental research in both formal and informal settings. As a member of EI:UI, Simon-Luc examined how information informs marine conservation, with a particular interest in the relationship between evidence, decision-making, and environmental governance.
Jillian Pulsifer
Jillian completed a Master of Library and Information Science at Dalhousie University after earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Francis Xavier University. Her interest in environmental conservation and information services led her to join the EI:UI research team. Through her work, Jillian explored how scientific research and environmental information can be communicated and applied to support individuals and organizations.
Mike Reid
Mike completed a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University after earning a Bachelor of Arts in History. His research and professional work have focused on climate change, coastal planning, and the application of geographic information systems (GIS) to marine and coastal management. Through EI:UI, Mike contributed to research examining environmental information and policy initiatives in both federal and municipal contexts. He was awarded both the Marine Affairs Millenium Prize in Marine Management and the Master of Marine Management Gold Award.
James Ross
James completed a Master of Library and Information Science at Dalhousie University, where his thesis examined the creation, dissemination, and use of the State of the Scotian Shelf Report. James served as the coordinator for the EI:UI monograph, Science, Information, and Policy Interface for Effective Coastal and Ocean Management. Following his graduate studies, James joined the Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie as a lecturer.
Simon Ryder-Burbidge
Simon completed a Bachelor of Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University before earning a Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University. His diverse professional experience–including commercial diving, tree planter, photographer, and volunteer radio producer–shaped his interest in marine conservation and ocean governance. Through EI:UI, Simon investigated the role of public perception and engagement in environmental policy development. He later joined the Ecology Action Centre, where he continues to focus on marine conservation and policy.
Andrew Roy
Andrew completed both a Master of Library and Information Science and a Juris Doctor at Dalhousie University after earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Alberta. His interdisciplinary interested in information, law, and environmental governance led him to join the EI:UI research team. His research explored the impact of digital technologies on environmental regulation and the communication of scientific information in legal and policy contexts.
Douglas Seaman
Douglas completed a Master of Library and Information Science at Dalhousie University, following a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Ottawa and a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Saint Mary’s University. His interest in environmental information stemmed from both his academic background and his appreciation for aquatic ecosystems. Through EI:UI, Douglas explored how scientific evidence can be effectively communicated to policymakers and applied to support environmental sustainability.
Lee Wilson
Lee joined EI:UI while completing his Master of Library and Information Science at Dalhousie University. His thesis examined information pathways within complex networks, with a particular focus on coastal and marine resource management. Following his graduate studies, Lee held research data management leadership roles with the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response (MEOPAR) Network, ACENET, and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, where he serves as Director of Research Data Management.
Julie Woods
Julie completed a Master of Library and Information Science at Dalhousie University after earning a Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology from Wilfred Laurier University. As a member of EI:UI, her research examined the use and influence of scientific information produced by Environment Canada.