Steve Gaines is Dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a marine ecologist who seeks conservation solutions by linking innovations in ocean science to more effective marine policy and management. He has over 260 publications, including 4 books. His science explores the design of marine reserve networks, climate change impacts on ocean ecosystems, sustainable fisheries management using market based reforms, and the role of aquaculture in meeting the future demand for food. In each of these science endeavors, he has been a strong promotor of more effective communication of ocean science to enhance its impact, and he has championed the power of interdisciplinary teams to tackle environmental challenges in novel ways.
Steve holds a PhD from Oregon State University. He has been awarded a Pew Fellowship, the inaugural Marc Hirshman Award for excellence in student mentoring, a fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science, and the Peter Benchley Prize for Ocean Science. His collaborative work on sustainable fisheries was named a top scientific contribution of 2008 by the journal Nature.