AUSTIN HUMPHRIES (he/him)

I am a conservation scientist and academic leader working at the intersection of people, biodiversity, and the sea. I lead a research group at the University of Rhode Island (URI) focused on small-scale fisheries and tropical coastal systems, generating actionable science to guide sustainable resource management that supports both ecological integrity and human well-being. I also serve as President of a non-profit organization, Marine Market Systems, that is dedicated to transforming how coastal communities understand and steward their marine resources.

My research is deeply collaborative and partner-driven. Most of my work is shaped by and conducted with rural and coastal communities across the Global South, with a focus on amplifying the voices of those traditionally marginalized in decision-making. I approach my work with a critical awareness of the colonial histories that shape conservation and fisheries science, and I continually reflect on how my positionality — including my role as a settler on Narragansett land — influences the research I conduct and how it is used.

Prior to my current roles, I served as Regional Director for USAID’s Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish, Founder and Graduate Director for the Center for Collaborative Research on Coral Reef Fisheries in Indonesia, and as a Postdoctoral Fellow with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I earned my PhD from Rhodes University (South Africa) through research in Kenya in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society. I completed my MS degree at Louisiana State University and BS from the University of Vermont.

More information about my work can be found on various websites including LinkedIn, Google Scholar, URI, or Marine Market Systems.