David’s research centers on marine coupled human-natural systems, focusing predominantly on marine management and tropical coral reef systems. Overall, his research aims to provide evidence-based insights into how marine management and conservation can lead to equitable and sustainable outcomes. This work is by nature both interdisciplinary and collaborative, drawing on key theories and analytical approaches from disciplines such as economics, community ecology, and political science, and working alongside researchers and practitioners to co-develop salient research questions, approaches and dissemination pathways. His recent work includes global and regional assessments of the social and ecological impacts of marine conservation, valuation of economic dependence on coral reefs, and developing cost-effective approaches for monitoring socioecological systems in capacity-limited regions.
David holds an MSc and PhD from the Centre of Resource Management and Environmental Studies, University of the West Indies, Barbados. His post-graduate career included two years as a Luc Hoffmann Fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC; 2014-2016) and a David H. Smith Conservation fellowship (2016-2018) based at George Mason University and Conservation International.
School Division
Marine Science & Conservation Marine LabEducation
- Ph.D., University of West Indies (West Indies) (2014)
Websites
Recent Grants
- Social justice in marine protected areas: understanding the differential impacts of marine threats and management actions within coastal communities awarded by Society for Conservation Biology
- Capacity Development for Coral Reef Science and Conservation in the Bird's Head Seascape awarded by Walton Family Foundation
- Relative impacts of no-take and partially-protected protected areas awarded by World Wildlife Fund
- Analyzing the Social Impacts of Marine Protection in the Sunda-Banda Seascape awarded by World Wildlife Fund
Recent Publications
- Earth System Governance 13, ( ):
- Science Advances 8, no. 18 ( ): eabl8929
- Frontiers in Marine Science 8, ( ):
- Science (New York, N.Y.) 373, no. 6560 ( ): eabf0861
- Frontiers in Marine Science 8, ( ):