Nikol Damato was recently awarded The Next Swell Scholarship.  These academic scholarships are awarded to exceptional undergraduate and graduate student candidates in pursuit of degrees in the associated fields of marine biology and marine conservation

Just finishing up her first year in the URI MA in Marine Affairs program, Nikol is an interdisciplinary social scientist and educator focusing on the human dimensions of marine conservation and wildlife management. Her professional and scholarly goal is to use knowledge of human decision-making and behavior to inform effective and equitable conservation policies. Her thesis examines boaters’ compliance with and support for vessel regulations in Puget Sound. Her project will inform management and outreach to reduce vessel disturbances to the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, or orcas.