Marine and Coastal Policy Research Group

In the Marine Policy course, each student is a member of the Marine and Coastal Policy Research Group.  Each student chooses to study a current unresolved question impacting America’s coastlines and oceans. They then interview a myriad of stakeholders with a vested interest in the outcome of the issue, examine relevant federal and state laws, regulations, and conduct cross-disciplinary research in order to develop credible policy strategies and solutions to their real-world problems.

This problem-based approach empowers students to gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills to address major questions and issues in all fields. It also provides the coastal stakeholder community with an opportunity to benefit from capable research, objective investigations, and collaboration with the only undergraduate college program that examines the ocean from an interdisciplinary lens, while seeking opportunities to empower global problem-solving.

Research Projects

Carolina Andrade F’22: Right Whales and Wind: Possible Coexistence of North Atlantic Right Whales and Offshore Wind Development

David Luongo F’22: The Impact of the National Flood Insurance Program’s Risk Rating 2.0 on Southern Louisiana

Marika Massey-Bierman F’22: The Future of PCB Cleanup in the New Bedford Harbor

Sam Sidders F’22: How should Washington State Sustainably and Effectively Respond to a Persistent and Predatory Invader, the European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas)?

Jenna Stanley F’22: Examining the Proposed Revision of the Critical Habitat Designation for North Pacific Right Whales

Alison Zhang F’22: Managing Salmon Stocks Between Southern Resident Killer Whales and Southeast Alaskan Fishing Communities

Clara Benadon S’22: Sounds Like Trouble: How The IMO Can Incentivize Quiet Ships Across the Arctic

Robin Henrikson S’22: The Lower Snake River Dam Controversy: Balancing Conservation, Agricultural Transportation, Tribal Rights, and Green Energy

Declan Houlihan S’22: CA Ballast Water Regulation and the Future of the State’s Role

Gabrielle Granata, Williams College Fall 2020: A Coastal Climate Injustice: Chelsea, MA 

Jinwoo Kang, Williams College Fall 2020: A Fighting Chance: Cancer Alley 

Kate Gehl S’20: Wakesurfing in the Newberg Pool on Oregon’s Willamette River: Recreation, Preservation, and Regulation

Stefan Kuklinsky S’20: Pollution in Port: Cruise Ship Emissions – Problems and Solutions

Zach Arfa F’19: The Future of Maine Aquaculture: Growth and Sustainability in Fish Farming

Hazel Atwill F’19: The Future of the Liquified Natural Gas Facility in Tacoma, Washington

Jeff Erazo F’19: Protecting New Jersey’s Meadowlands and Local Communities from Floods and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Colin Goodbred F’19: Towards Sustainable Native Hawaiian Access to Green Sea Turtle Take