Dr Pamela Buchan

Pamela is an interdisciplinary marine scientist with academic experience from across marine biology, coastal zone management, marine social science. She has a broad interest in systems of environmental governance and response to climate change, and the role of social science and evidence in environmental decision-making. Her marine research is focused on the role of people as marine citizens in promoting a sustainable future for the marine environment and marine governance. She brings a professional background in public engagement with science and has direct experience with decision-making in local government, ports and shipping, and fisheries management. Her research and practice are at the interface of the marine environment and the public, across a range of marine and non-marine sectors.

Research interests and specialisms

Evidence Pamela has particular interest in the role of evidence in environmental decision-making. She specialises in policy engagement and conducts research centred around the needs and uses of social science and qualitative evidence, and the role of evidence synthesis.

Marine Pamela is interested in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and practice related to the human-ocean relationship, including governance and decision making. Her research has investigated marine citizenship through a range of disciplines including marine environmental science, human geography, environmental psychology and environmental law, and explored marine identity as a novel concept. Her work is strongly impact-focused and led to the development of the Ocean Recovery Declaration as a vehicle for marine citizenship. Pamela's impact work was recognised in 2022 through award of the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize - Outstanding Early Career Impact. She has undertaken reseach and impact collaborations with a range of organisations including Ocean Conservation Trust, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, Marine Management Organisation, The Crown Estate, Defra, Natural England, WWF, Coastal Collaborative Ltd, Coastal Partnerships Network, World Ocean Day for Schools.