Catherine (“Catie”) Alves, Ph.D.
Catherine (“Catie”) Alves, Ph.D.
Catherine Alves, Ph.D., received a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Connecticut College in 2013. After working for several years in marine conservation and education, she completed her Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2020. Dr. Alves’s dissertation research focused on assessing coral reef and fisheries management strategies in Belize using a social-ecological systems framework. She regularly collaborates with scientists, natural resource managers and marine stakeholders to build capacity and increase community engagement. Dr. Alves has worked in Mexico, Belize, and the northeast United States to combine social science with ecology to inform improved management of marine ecosystems. Her work has been supported by the National Geographic Society, the Rufford Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
Dr. Alves joined the Social Sciences Branch in 2020, on an interdisciplinary project assessing the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery to changing ocean conditions. Her work involves reviewing the regulatory history of the fishery, analyzing commercial landings data, conducting oral histories with fisheries stakeholders, and developing scallop community profiles. As an interdisciplinary marine scientist, Dr. Alves has devoted to a career bridging the gap between policymakers, scientists, the public, and other stakeholders. Outside of work, she enjoys paddle-boarding, kayaking, and enjoying food with family and friends. Dr. Alves is based at the Narragansett Laboratory in Rhode Island.