Dr Pamela Buchan

Pamela is an interdisciplinary marine scientist with academic experience from across marine biology, coastal zone management, and marine social science through human geography. Her 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 through serving a term as an Elected Member of Plymouth City Council and her current roles as Vice Chair of the Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Cattewater Harbour Commissioner. Her research and practice are at the interface of the marine environment and the public, across a range of marine and non-marine sectors.

Broad research specialisms

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.