Jessica Vandenberg, Ph.D. Marine Affairs, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright grant to continue her research in Indonesia. Vandenberg studied coral reef conservation in small island fishing communities in South Sulawesi during her dissertation, which she successfully defended in April 2020, and will focus research during her Fulbright year on the role that social networks have in destructive fishing practices. Recognizing that social networks influence the rejection or adoption of destructive fishing gear, she says that “Social networks affect the ways information flows through fishing communities. They also drive the adoption or support of particular fishing practices or restrictions. Key actors within a community can have authority whether individuals within their social networks support or reject fishing norms.”

This grant will allow Vandenberg to continue to explore social and political factors of destructive fishing and develop applications of this knowledge into fisheries management. Fulbright will also allow her to continue to build meaningful relationships within institutions and communities that she developed during her dissertation. After the completion of her Fulbright, she will begin her postdoc at the University of Washington, conducting research on the impacts of global marine plastic pollution on coastal communities. Read more about her work and other URI Fulbright award recipients on URI Today.