Heather Deese

As Marine Programs Director, Heather is responsible for designing and implementing projects that address island and remote coastal communities' priorities related to the marine environment, including fisheries, ocean energy, and climate change. Current marine projects include Human Use Mapping in Penobscot Bay and working with the DeepCWind consortium on environmental monitoring. In addition, Heather has a major focus on translating and communicating scientific information and current research results of relevance to coastal and island communities.

Heather brings extensive experience in oceanographic research and the translation, communication, and application of scientific understanding for practical purposes, including marine policy and resource management.

Heather's oceanographic research has spanned laboratory, observational, and field studies, during which she has spent over five months at sea including surveys off Antarctica, the North Sea, and many places in between. Her research in physical oceanography has implications for climate change, marine ecosystems, and emerging activities including ocean renewable energy. In New England, Heather has advised the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Conservation Law Foundation, and the Downeast Groundfish Initiative on fisheries and marine conservation. She has also worked for the Australian Commonwealth's National Oceans Office, where she managed the program to define bioregions for the Australian EEZ in support of regional marine planning.

Heather holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maine, a M.S. from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution & Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a B.S. from Georgetown University.

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