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 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.

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.

Currently, I hold a joint faculty appointment at the University of Rhode Island in the Departments of Fisheries, Animal & Veterinary Sciences and Marine Affairs. Prior to joining URI, I was 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, and completed MS studies at Louisiana State University and BS work at the University of Vermont.