As a marine social ecologist, I examine human-ocean relationships and the factors that mediate them. I focus on understanding how worldviews and interpersonal dynamics shape coastal resource use and marine conservation approaches, as well as how coastal communities adapt to their ever-changing social-ecological systems. The aim of my work is to explore how different ethics, moralities, and epistemologies of coastal resource users may disconnect with those of overlapping institutions and how these differing worldviews might be reconciled through collaborative partnerships. This work is imperative as policy makers, organization leaders, and researchers seek innovative ways of engaging with diverse communities toward more fair and equitable environmental solutions that support human dignity and well-being. Methodologically, I pursue this work by sharing conceptual ground with research participants to co-constitute new knowledge. One primary way I strive for this co-production is by incorporating what I have termed “visual participatory methods” with a focus on community film and photography.
Professional Appointments
Assistant Professor of the Environment at California University San Marcos (go Cougars!)
Publications
Academic Articles
Swanson, S.S., Gutierrez, E. T. Souza, A.M. Moore,, S. Ndobe, J. Jompa, L.B. Crowder (In press). Catching Dory: Selling Aquarium Fish Supports Coastal Livelihoods in Indonesia. njp Ocean Sustainability.
Ferguson, C.E., Green, K.M., Swanson, S.S. (equal authorship) (2022). Indigenous food sovereignty constrained by “time imperialism.” Geoforum,123, 20-31.
Swanson, S.S. & Ardoin, N.M. (2021). Communities Behind the Lens: A review and critical analysis of Visual Participatory Methods in biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation, 262, 109293.
Swanson, S.S., Moore, A.M., Ndobe, S., Jompa, J. (2021). Yellow coral goby (Gobiodon okinawae) trade in Banggai Laut District, Indonesia. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation & Legislation Bioflux,14 (1), 259-273.
Green, K.M., Selgrath, J.C., Frawley, T.H., Oestreich, W.K., Mansfield, E.J., Urteaga, J., Swanson, S.S., Santana, F.N., Green, S.J., Naggea, J., Crowder, L.B. (2021). How adaptive capacity shapes the Adapt, React, Cope Response to climate impacts: insights from small-scale fisheries. Climactic Change, 164 (1), 1-22.
Finkbeiner, E. M., Bennett, N. J., Frawley, T. H., Mason, J. G., Briscoe, D. K., Brooks, C. M., Ng, C.A., Ourens, R., Seto, K., Swanson, S.S., Urteaga, J., Crowder, L.B. (2017). Reconstructing Overfishing: Moving beyond Malthus for effective and equitable solutions. Fish and Fisheries, (January), 1–12.
Book Chapters
Pauwelussen, A. & Swanson, S.S. (2022). Good Human-Turtle Relationships in Indonesia: Exploring Intersecting Legalities in Sea Turtle Conservation. In I. Braverman (Ed.) Blue Legalities: The life and laws of the Sea. Routledge.
Oestrich, W.K., Frawley, T.H., Mansfield, E.J., Green, K.M, Green, S.J. Naggea, J., Selgrath, J.C., Swanson, S.S., Urteaga, J., White, T.D., Crowder, L.B. (2019). The impact of environmental change on small-scale fishing communities: moving beyond adaptive capacity to community response. In Predicting Future Oceans (pp. 271-282). Elsevier.
Swanson, S.S. (2018). The Married Life (as a marine tourism researcher). In B.A. Porter & H. Schänzel (Eds.), Femininities in the Field: Tourism and Transdisciplinary Research (pp. 39-54). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications.
Grants & Fellowships
- Lieberman Graduate Fellowship, Stanford 2020-2021
- Mary Louise Remy Endowed Scholar Award, P.E.O International $15,000 2020-2021
- Stanford Diversity Dissertation Research Opportunity Grant $1,000 (PI) 2019-2020
- Competitive award for doctoral research that contributes to understanding diversity
- Horn Family Fellowship in E-IPER, Stanford 2018-2020
- National Geographic Early Career Grant $10,000 (PI) 2018-2019
- Stanford Graduate Fellowship in Science & Engineering 2016-2018
- McGee & Levorsen Stanford Earth Research Grants $10,000 (PI) 2015-2019
- Graduate Public Service Fellowship, Hass Center, Stanford 2016-2017
- National Geographic’s Inaugural Explorer Collaboration Grant $25,000 (PI) 2015-2016
- Teresa Elms and Robert D. Lindsay Fellowship in E-IPER, Stanford 2015-2016
- David Brower Research Fund $6,000 (PI) 2014-2015
- Nicholas School Assistantship $15,000 2013-2015
- National Geographic Young Explorer Grant $2,500 (PI) 2010-2012
Awards & Honors
- Stanford Earth Certificate of Achievement in Mentoring 2020
- Stanford Centennial Teaching Assistant Award 2020
- National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2017
- Duke University Commencement Student Speaker for the Nicholas School 2015
- Surfer Magazine Agent of Change 2014
- News & Documentary Emmy 2012
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