Team Profile

Peer-reviewed Publications
Authored/Co-authored by Lab Members

Active & Past Projects
Involving Lab Members

Assistant Professor of International Development
Department of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island (URI)

Research Interests:
Vulnerability and adaptive capacities of marginalised communities in the global South, with a focus on Southeast Asia; Sustainable equitable development; Empowering women, indigenous peoples, and ethnic minorities; Collaborative and participatory approaches. 


Education: 

Email : hiwasaki@uri.edu
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-hiwasaki/
ORCID : https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0658-6017

Current Team Members

Ph.D. Candidate in Marine Affairs, URI (since 2022) 

Research Interests:
Marine resource governance; Community-based coastal management; Social-ecological aspects of marine conservation

Education: 

Email : nara.wisesa@uri.edu
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/nara-wisesa/
ORCID : https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6295-6022 

Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (MAMA) Student, URI (since 2023)

Research Interests:
Cultural Value in Shellfish & Mangrove; Indigenous Knowledge-based Coastal Management; Conservation 

Education: 

Email : hrumbiak@uri.edu

Katelyn Barrett

Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) Student, URI (since 2023)
Master of Arts in International Relations Student, URI (since 2023) 

Research Interests:
Sustainable development; Local and Indigenous Knowledge-based ecosystem management; International Environmental Policy

Education: 

Email : katelyn.barrett@uri.edu
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelyn-barrett-11699830a/ 

María Mercedes Arévalo Aranaga

United Nations DOALOS Fellow, supervised by URI (2024)
Postgraduate Degree in International Development , Graduate Institute of Geneva 

Research Interests:
Climate change adaptation and resilience; Sustainable Development; Empowerment of women in climate action; International Climate Finances 

Education: 

Email : mmcambioclimatico@gmail.com, mercedesaranaga@gmail.com 
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-mercedes-arevalo 

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Ruth Akorli

Ph.D. Student in Marine Affairs, URI (since 2024)

Research Interests:
Coastal resilience; Vulnerability; Climate change impacts & adaptation; Climate change extremes

Education: 

Email : ruth.akorli@uri.edu 
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-akorli-086000156 

Past Team Members

Ph.D. Student in Marine Affairs, URI  (since 2022)

Research Interests:
Vulnerability; Payment for ecosystem services; Community-based management

Education: 

Email : han_le@uri.edu
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/han-le-708153228/
ORCID : https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-0055-2759  

Heru Setiawan

Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM), URI (2021-2023)

Research Interests:
Disaster Risk Management; Indigenous Knowledge-based coastal management; Geological mapping; Environmental Policy Management

Education: 

Email : herusetiawan@uri.edu
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/heru-setiawan-329090192 

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