Volunteer of the Month: December 2009

Kristen Bor

Master’s student at UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management

Kristen grew up in Idaho and received a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Puget Sound in Washington. After college, she worked as a SCUBA instructor in Thailand and observed firsthand the problems facing our oceans. She witnessed polluted waters, reefs covered in trash, and very few fish. It was during this time that she decided to work in the marine conservation field.

This led her to the Master’s program at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, where she is specializing in Marine Resources Management. She is particularly interested in fisheries management, sustainable seafood, and marine mammal conservation.

As an intern with Ocean Futures Society since March 2009, Kristen has written blogs for the website and researched issues including shark finning, monk seals, humpback whales, salmon farming, and many others.

“I have been exposed to issues I was not even aware of. In my internship, I have improved my writing skills, and I have learned how to communicate conservation issues to the general public. It has been a great experience, and I know that my work here is truly making a difference.”