Degree program: M.A.M.A.
Year accepted: 2024
Advisor: TBD
Research: Offshore wind
Background: B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Delaware

Eva Pumo is from Hershey, Pennsylvania, but she has a special connection to the ocean through her family. Her father is from the Jersey Shore, and throughout her childhood she and her family would return there on summer vacation. Eva’s love for the ocean would ultimately motivate her to study the environment, particularly coastal systems. Eva received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at the University of Delaware, with an emphasis on Climate and Society. She also participated in an NSF-funded project called the Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic prosperity, and Resilience (CHEER) Hub. In this project, Eva split her time between Delaware and North Carolina and learned about the perceived risk of sea level rise and environmental hazards. It was at this point that Eva began to think seriously about graduate school to pursue her growing interest in the field.

Eva originally thought she wanted to study oceanography, owing to an interest in coastal hazards. However, when she reached out to J. P. Walsh at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO), he suggested her interests might be better aligned with the Department of Marine Affairs (MAF). Eva also has a vested interest in the offshore wind industry. In 2023 she visited a Danish wind farm called Middelgrunden, climbing 12 stories to reach the top of a turbine. The experience was life-changing for Eva and has helped shape her personal interests in the world of marine affairs, specifically offshore wind. During her time at URI, Eva would like to work with David Bidwell and Emily Diamond to conduct research on public perceptions of offshore wind. While she’s living in Rhode Island, Eva is interested in pursuing more water-based activities and integrating herself within the marine affairs community.