AUSTIN HUMPHRIES (he/him)

I am a marine scientist and academic leader whose work bridges ecology, food systems, and human well-being in coastal environments. I lead a research group at the University of Rhode Island (URI) that studies how people and ecosystems interact in (mostly tropical) coastal systems, generating actionable science to support resilient, equitable, and sustainable ocean futures. I also serve as President of Marine Market Systems, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming how coastal communities understand, value, and steward their marine resources.

My research is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and partner-driven. Working with communities, NGOs, and governments across the Global South, my team co-designs projects that link ecological processes to social and cultural outcomes. A central aim of my work is to amplify voices that are often underrepresented in decision-making about marine resources. I approach this work with an awareness of the colonial histories that shape marine science and management, and I continue to reflect on how my positionality—including my role as a settler on Narragansett land—influences both the research I conduct and the knowledge I help produce.

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 Ph.D. from Rhodes University (South Africa) through research conducted in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Kenya, and completed my M.S. at Louisiana State University and B.S. at the University of Vermont.

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