I came into my program knowing full well what my interests were and what exactly I wanted to focus on. When I was asked what I wanted to do for my CBE fellowship, the answer was simple–I wanted to contribute to the conservation of coral reefs. For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed snorkeling and, eventually, diving among the reefs in my home country, the Philippines. So when I was told about a chance to work on a blue economy assessment for Kenya and Tanzania that placed special emphasis on the importance of coral reefs and mangroves, I took on the opportunity.
This summer, I took a “great escape” from the California Coast to the Coast of New England. Boston has a different charm compared to California. This city is small but vibrant, yet full of culture and history. The EDF Boston office is located in historical downtown. In 1 mile radius, there are many historical sites that witnessed the establishment and development of United States as a nation, including the Boston Tea Party Ship, the Massachusetts State House, the Faneuil Hall (the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin and James Otis, etc), the Bunker Hill Monument, and many others. I fell in love with the city immediately after arrival.
The EDF Boston office (I don’t mean to hurt your neck but I can’t rotate the picture >_<)
View from the office: the historical Boston downtown
On June 11, I started my work at the Environmental Defense Fund Boston Office. I work with the EDF China Ocean team on two independent projects: 1. Identifying the most important species in China’s seafood market and assessing the their climate change vulnerabilities. 2. Compile case studies of sustainable fishery management initiatives and evaluate their feasibilities under China’s legal and cultural background. The Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment I’m working on is part of a Climate Roadmap that EDF Ocean Program and Zhejiang Fishery Institute initiated this year, and it’s a pioneer project that will help China develop its policy framework for sustainable and climate-ready fishery. This is a very ambitious project, but I feel very motivated because I, as well as many people, believe that climate-ready fishery its the foundation of all sustainable fishing initiatives we are visioning for the coming years.
A typical morning at work: reading research papers and EDF periodical while sipping on my coffee.
The scope of EDF’s work really impressed me. While the EDF Ocean team is leading the sustainable fishery projects domestically, the Ocean program has also extended the network to Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Chile, China, Japan, Philippines and Indonesia, and EDF Ocean team works very closely with scientists, institutes and fishery communities across the globe. We have bi-weekly video-conference with EDF Ocean staff and its regional partners, and together we discuss the steps we need to take and what each of us can do to contribute to the overarching goal. I learned so much about different practices in different projects world-wide, and I’m witnessing a growing network of sustainable fishery management teams. Apart from me, there are 3 other EDF staff in the Boston office that focus on China Fishery project. We discuss our work process frequently and share our insights with each other, and we sometimes go sailing after work.
Sailing on the Charles River with my colleagues after work
I’m very grateful to have the chance to work with the wonderful team. The working culture in EDF is absolutely supportive and fun. Everyone (including high-level directors ) is so approachable and people are always willing to take their time to help me with whatever questions I have. Working for such a prestigious NGO is such a privilege and I’m always learning something new from the conversations I have with the staff in EDF, the webinars and the video-conferences. I will definitely look for opportunities to come back after the summer.
Aside from the four million people that live in the high North (Arctic), I’m one of few from the lower latitude who wants to be 66°32’21”N of the equator. 🤷🏾♀️🥶 Geographically, that’s roughly the coordinates for where the Arctic Circle begins and the point of origin of my passion for all things Arctic. I’m not quite in the Arctic yet but my journey has only just begun! Presently, I write from 52°22’55″N, the location of the Alfred Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Deutsches Arktisbüro (German Arctic Office) in Potsdam, Germany. More info on AWI German Arctic Office here: https://www.awi.de/en/about-us/transfer/arctic-office.html
part of the AWI and its German Arctic Office, among other research institutions are located at the Albert Einstein Science Park situated on the Telegrafenberg next to Postdam. The main AWI campus is located in Bremerhaven, Germany.
I am approaching my third week at the German Arctic Office as an Arctic policy research CBE fellow. I have again the pleasure of working with some of the brightest minds in the field of Arctic science and policy until the 20th of September. I arrived early to get the lay of the land and discovered a wonderful forest (pictured below) that I either walk or bike through to/from work most days. The first day I arrived I was greeted by Dr. Volker Rachold, Head of the AWI German Arctic Office and Lisa Grosfeld, Project Officer of AWI and the APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists). It was like catching up on old but new times as we know some of the same people in the Arctic community. I began my research into Arctic law and governance on my first day. I started out in the AWIs old office (pictured above) and a week later we transitioned to the German Arctic Office’s new home, also on the grounds of the Albert Einstein Science Park campus. I was super stoked that my new desk was a very modern, sleek standing desk (pictured below). 😁 The equipment is stellar.
My new standing desk at the AWI German Arctic Office.
Just one of the many resources I use during my research.
One can never be in the field of Arctic policy and science without the Polar bear. Must have! This one belongs to Dr. Rachold.
Nostalgia: Three years ago I said to my MIIS professional career adviser, that I would like to work at the AWI. She and a few others had never heard of the AWI, nor has there been any MIIS student before me to intern or complete a CBE fellowship with the organization. A few conversations with some of my mentors (Dr. Kelly and Lawrence Hislop) and a Skype call later with Dr. Rachold and I’m headed to the place I vowed I would work at someday. I’m such a lucky gal! And am really happy to be working in such a small, intimate office with my colleagues. I practice my German language skills, share the fan with Lisa on very hot days 🥵 and have lunch with Lisa, Dr. Rachold and the Director of APECS almost everyday.
I enjoy walking and biking through the forest.
I love all things AWI! Someone has to monitor the sea ice because what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic! Global Effects people! Global Effects!
One small perk of working at the AWI. Get rid of plastic and carry reusable!
As part of my CBE fellowship with the AWI, I will produce a fact sheet in German and English whose working title is Governance in der Arktis (Governance in the Arctic). The fact sheet will discuss the international laws and agreements and Indigenous rights, ownership (or lack thereof) and perspective of governance in the Arctic region. Additional highlights of my work include interviewing Arctic researchers at the Institute for Advanced Sustainable Studies (IASS), also in Potsdam, experts from the Arctic Centre in Lapland, Finland, the Woodrow Wilson Polar Initiative Center in Washington, D.C. and Indigenous representatives from the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat (IPS) in Tromsø, Norway.
The banners are up in the new office.
As warming accelerates and the sea ice in the Arctic continues to melt, the geopolitics of the region are shifting – prompting the question Who Owns the Arctic? This in large part is what the fact sheet will be about. Spoiler Alert: There are many moving parts (political, social and economic), regional and international actors, stakeholders and governing bodies that contribute to Arctic governance. Short political answer: Arctic ownership consists of a culturally, diverse mix of Indigenous communities (Aleut, Athabaskan, Gwich’in, Inuit, Saami and Russian Indigenous Peoples of the North) and eight Arctic Nation States (Canada, Denmark w/respect to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and the USA). Stick around for future blog posts and you might want to be 66°32’21”N too. 😉
Lastly, I want to express my tremendous thanks to the donors that sponsored my CBE Fellowship. If it weren’t for your generous contribution I would not have this opportunity. I am forever grateful and humble! To: Dr. Volker Rachold, thank you for allowing me to work and learn under your direction. Prof. Jason Scorse, Chair of IEP and Director of the CBE, thank you for always accommodating my many plans and willingness to be flexible with me. You know I am always pushing the envelope. Dr. Brendan P. Kelly, my graduate supervisor, mentor, colleague and friend who always encourages me to follow my passion. Don’t worry you can still carry my bags. Dr. Lyuba Zarksy, MIIS IEP Prof., mentor and friend for guiding my professional and personal thoughts. Your moxie is grand! Prof. Monica Galligan, mentor and friend, for being there even when I didn’t think I needed you. Edy Rhodes, CACS Adviser, friend and colleague, for always helping and accommodating me, even when I don’t have an appointment. Rachel Christopherson, CBE Program Manager, for always smiling when I walk in the CBE and supporting me from every sideline possible. To my sister and best friend, Lisa Aiken who maintains that I live my best life and to follow my dreams. To my immediate family for contributing to my professional career and dream to become an Arctic policy expert. My MIIS IEP colleagues for all your love and support! I would not be half the person I am today if it weren’t for the people named here and countless others. I am forever in your debt!
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to connect and discuss Arctic affairs or otherwise, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Respectfully,
Kimberly Aiken
MAIEP, OCRM Candidate Class of 2020 CBE Fellow Arctic Policy 2019 @ The Alfred Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Deutsches Arktisbüro
As a ’90s kid, my romanticized idea of living in San Francisco was inspired by scenes from Full House, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the Princess Diaries. While San Francisco today is nothing like it was in the movies and shows we grew up with, it’s been an adventure with more culture and history than I could have imagined. Luckily, I arrived a week early to explore the city before starting my summer fellowship. I took that time as my opportunity to see sights I hadn’t been to before, get lost, and learn the transportation system.
It has been almost three weeks
since I arrived in the Galapagos and I will be working here until the end of
September (my timeline is a bit more flexible than other CBE Fellows as I have
finished all my classes at MIIS). So far, the experience has been incredible.
The first day I arrived I met with Diana, who is the head of the WildAid
program in the Galapagos. She is also who I am living with and has taken to
referring to herself as my aunt. I originally thought I would be working
primarily under her, but she had slightly different and exciting plans for me.
Environmental Defense Fund
San Francisco, California
June 13th - August 23rd, 2019
This summer, I’ll be living in San Francisco doing research for the Environmental Defense Fund. After taking a week long road camping trip through the Eastern Sierra to get here, I settled in quick to life at the office. EDF’s office overlooks the financial district and allows for a stunning view of the bay. Right away I was assigned two projects. The first project focused on interactions between fisheries and aquaculture. It is commonly claimed that aquaculture will be a beneficial force for fishing communities that are experiencing declines in their fisheries, but there have not been many studies that focus on the interactions between these sectors. I am reviewing the literature to find case studies showing interactions between aquaculture and fisheries to determine when this is the case and when these transitions into aquaculture have not improved livelihoods of fishing communities. I contributed to a database categorizing elements of these case studies so that they can be compared via statistical analysis to inform a paper EDF plans to publish in the fall.
My second project focuses on the various governance
structures and conditions associated with various types of aquaculture. I am conducting a literature review to develop
case studies and to determine what factors contribute to aquaculture that is
sustainable, equitably improves livelihoods, and supports people’s nutritional
needs and what factors foster destructive aquaculture practices.
So far, I have really been enjoying the work environment at EDF. The fisheries solution center ensures that everyone on the team, including the interns and research fellows, are up to date on all of the innovative projects that people are working on all over the world. We also have weekly brown bags for all interns that give overviews of what EDF has worked on as well as some that will focus on professional development skills. It is great and inspiring to work in a setting where everyone is passionate about their projects and willing to collaborate with each other to find the best solutions possible. When I’m not in the office, I’ve been enjoying exploring the city and getting out for some trail runs in the Marin Headlands and areas along the Sierra. I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the summer!
Southern California’s pristine coastline and a work to protect it: I would definitely say this is a superb way to spend my summer. I am here at California Coastal Commission’s South Coast District Office in Long Beach, just a few blocks from the ocean and the Port of Long Beach. Along with 6 other district offices and various departments, we thrive to fulfill the mission of the Commission as a whole: To protect and enhance California’s coast for present and future generations.
The seafood market is a giant market in Taiwan. However, because the ocean is large (about 180,000 km2) and the marine environment is complicated (coral reef environment in the South China Sea, kelp environment in the Ease China Sea, Kuroshio ocean current, and China coastal current), the seafood is various so that it is difficult to be regulated.
According to the Fishery Agency, there are 322 genus species are economic marine species, but only a few species have clear data of fish population to modify its catching. These species include tuna family (Family Scombridae), mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), and farmed fish (about 12 genus and species). Therefore, a consumer could have various choice in fish but the products could be from boats which are from IUU fishing (Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing).
My summer began with a sunrise visit
of the Tijuana River Estuary at Border Field State Park. I met my new
supervisors at 7AM for a special tour they were hosting for a team of
journalists interested in the binational relations and environmental problems
in the Tijuana River Valley. Following around a film crew and eavesdropping on
interviews was not a conventional first day as an intern, but I was able to see
the landscape we work to protect, as well as understand some of the most
pressing environmental issues. As we explored the park, border patrol radios murmured
over our shoulders and smoke rose from the hills of Tijuana, Mexico, just
barely a stone’s throw away.
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) German Arctic office Potsdam, Germany 22 July – 20 September, 2019
Kimberly will collect information about
international laws and agreements applicable for the Arctic and summarize them
in a fact sheet. If possible, she will use graphical tools (e.g. ArcGIS) to
illustrate the factsheet. Besides this main task, she will help with the day-to-day
work and organization of upcoming events of the AWI German Arctic Office, e.g.,
a Science to Policy Workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland, taking place in October
2019.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Washington, D.C. June 3 to August 9, 2019
Environmental and Social Safeguards are an
integral component of international development projects. WWF is committed to
ensuring that its projects not only avoid (or minimize) adverse environmental
and social impacts, but also enhance positive impacts to the maximum extent
possible.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and European Institute of Marine Studies (IUEM) Université de Bretagne Occidentale/IUEM Brest, France May 27 – August 16, 2019
The Center for the Blue Economy and the
Nicholas Institute of Duke University are conducting a study of the “blue
economy,” the contributions of the oceans and coastlines to the economy, and
the need to address ocean and coastal sustainability. Specifically, Abi will research ocean’s
contribution to the national economies of Kenya and Tanzania, with special
reference to coral reefs. Working with the WWF coordinator for the project, Abi
will assist in the gathering and analysis of relevant data and in the
preparationof written materials for the project.
Environmental Defense Fund San Francisco, CA June 10-mid August, 2019
Zoe will research the development of behavior
change interventions in areas like the Philippines, Chile and Cuba. She will
focus on topics such as sustainable aquaculture, indebtedness in unsustainable
fishing behavior, and the failure of the National Stock Assessment Plan of the
Philippines.
California Coastal Commission (CCC), South Coast District Office Long Beach, CA May 27 to August 23, 2019
Hahnbin will develop a summary
of past Commission actions on items within the South Coast District related to
specific coastal resource topics including, climate change, wetlands,
mitigation of fill of coastal waters, and parking requirements.
