Erica Asinas, research scientist, is leaving the Climate Impacts Group to join Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank that works with scientists, policy makers, designers, and community organizations to develop equitable climate and ocean policy for the future of coastal cities. In her new role, Erica will serve as Policy Advisory where she will be supporting the development of a “Blue New Deal” policy framework, and managing research, a resource hub, and partnerships to support its implementation.

In her first year at the Climate Impacts Group, Erica co-managed a successful grant application to NOAA’s Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program. Writing the application was a complex process, with many active and engaged contributors. Erica worked to ensure the proposal was completed well and on-time, while also contributing her own expertise. The successful NOAA application ultimately funded the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative.

Erica has contributed her social and policy science expertise to a range of projects tackling flooding, shifting habitats for wildlife, water systems planning and more. She has given multiple presentations and interviews on the unequal distribution of climate change impacts and the need for equitable climate adaptation practices. She has been a leading contributor to the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative, working on efforts to build tribal coastal resilience and on efforts to scale climate adaptation science across frontline communities. Erica has also served as an author on the US Fifth National Climate Assessment’s Northwest chapter.

We are grateful to Erica for her commitment to climate justice and her contributions to our team. Erica’s last day with the Climate Impacts Group will be October 14, 2022. We wish Erica all the best as she transitions to her new role with Urban Oceans Lab.