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Affiliations

Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR)

Education

• PhD, Environment and Resources, Stanford University, 2017
• Grad Cert., Science Communication, University of California Santa Cruz, 2009
• M.S., Marine Science, Moss Landing Marine Labs, California State University,2008
• B.S., Biology, Bates College, 2001

Research Interests

• Antarctica
• Environmental Governance
• Marine Science
• Natural Resource Conservation
• Protected Areas

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Cassandra Brooks is anÌýAssistant Professor in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. She draws on a diversity of disciplines including marine science, environmental policy, and science communication to study and seek solutions to pressing environmental problems.

Prior to joining ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder, she completed a PhD at Stanford University, studying international ocean policy, with a focus on marine protection in the Antarctic. InÌýher previous graduate work at Moss Landing Marine Labs, she studied Antarctic toothfish in the Ross Sea, a population that supports the most remote fishery on Earth. She was also a core member ofÌýThe Last Ocean,Ìýa grand-scale media project focused on the Ross Sea.ÌýHer efforts helped drive the adoption of the world’s largest marine protected area in the Ross Sea, Antarctica – one of the healthiest and most productive marine ecosystems left on Earth. For this work, she was awarded aÌýSwitzer FellowshipÌýin Environmental Leadership (2015),ÌýtheÌýRonne Award for Antarctic Research or ExplorationÌýthrough the Society of Woman Geographers (2022), and theÌýExplorer's Club 50Ìýhonor (2022).ÌýFor herÌýinterdisciplinary engaged scholarship, she was awarded theÌýEarly Career Award from the Association for Environmental Studies and SciencesÌý(2021). At the University of Colorado Boulder she has also received the Excellence in Service & LeadershipÌýAward (2023) and Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award (2023).

In the last 20 years, Cassandra’s drive to understand and contribute to marine conservation has taken her to all seven continents, working in different capacities. This includes as a federal fisheries observer on New England groundfish boats, five research expeditions to Antarctica, experience as a science writer and media producer, and working as an Antarctic policy advisor for international conservation organizations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Cassandra's research is currently funded by NASA, NSF, and theÌýPewÌýCharitable Trusts. Her current projects include those focused on:Ìýlife history connectivity of Antarctic toothfishÌýand Antarctic krill; the importance of Antarctic polynyas;Ìýresearch and monitoring in the Ross Sea region marine protected area;ÌýÌýecosystem valuation of the Southern Ocean;Ìýclimate change impacts on albatross;Ìýand the development of a representative system of protected areas in the Southern Ocean, including identifying Key Biodiversity Areas.ÌýShe is also a member of many international research projects, includingÌýArctic Rivers,ÌýCoral Reefs on the High Seas Coalition, andÌýSecuring Antarctica's Environmental Future.Ìý

As an engaged scholar,Ìýshe presents her work at conferences, workshops, public events, and directly to policy-makers. She has widely published in science, policy and interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journals, including commentaries inÌýScienceÌýandÌýNature. Further, Cassandra isÌýtrained as a Science Communicator through the University of California Santa Cruz and has published more than 175 articles and multi-media stories about marine science and the environment, including inÌýThe Seattle Times, Science,
andÌýNational Geographic.ÌýCassandra also makes time to talk to the press.ÌýHer research and media have been featured in the popular media across the world,ÌýincludingÌýNPR, PBS,ÌýCNN, Time Magazine, Smithsonian, andÌýThe Washington Post. Active in the Antarctic science- policy sphere, since 2012, Cassandra has participated in meetings of theÌýCommission for the Conservation ofÌýAntarctic Marine Living ResourcesÌý(CCAMLR), and currently does so with theÌýScientific Committee on Antarctic ResearchÌý(SCAR) delegation. SheÌýis currently the Deputy Chief Officer ofÌýSCAR’sÌýStanding Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System.ÌýCassandra has also served as Science Faculty withÌýHomeward Bound, a global women's leadership initiative set in Antarctica.Ìý

Through her teaching at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder, which is largely focused on environmental governance and conservation solutions, she seeks to empower the next generations of environmental leaders. Cassandra advises a diverse interdisciplinary lab group, their work.

Note to ProspectiveÌýStudents

Professor Brooks is not accepting any new students at this time.