Publications
I am the primary author and project manager of dozens of documents for scientific, general public, and government audiences.
Social Impact Publications
Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into
the Ocean
In 2010, when I started creating Ocean Conservancy’s strategy for the Trash Free Seas program, there was no global, scientifically credible assessment of the amount of plastics going into the ocean. I identified the best scientists in the world and secured the funding for a working group that created many peer-reviewed analyses, including this publication in Science magazine.
Connecting Scientific Capacity to Public Policy
In 2021 I led five funders (Chan Zuckerberg, Moore, Packard, Rita Allen, Schmidt Futures) to convene a six-month working group to explore the hypothesis that the broad community of science policy “alumni” can become a valuable resource to nonprofit organizations and foundations who seek to deliver scientific information in formats and time frames that are useful to decision makers.
BCSP
We worked with world-class designer Pentagram and WordPress leadership to develop a significant repository of fact-based science information on psychedelics and mental health.
AAAS
I spoke at the annual meeting of the 2020 American Association for the Advancement of Science on the topic of how scientists can advance their research and have a positive impact on the world by connecting with real-world problems.
Too Precious to Wear
Millions of media impressions resulted from press work at the 14th Convention of Parties at the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species. A summary and samples appear in this clip book.
Food for the Parks
The first activity I identified as a consultant to the Institute at the Golden Gate was to create this case study report of successful sustainable food programs in the National Park Service. A direct outcome of this report and my other work for the Institute was a decision by the Director of the National Park Service to require that all concessionaires include sustainability criteria in their contracts.
Park Prescriptions
Park Prescriptions is a program that connects the health-care world with public lands as an untapped resource for health. As the project manager for this report, I established the vision, assembled the team, and wrote substantial sections of the document.
Catch Shares Reduce Overfishing Worldwide
I prepared the first-ever map of catch shares. I also helped to create a database that included in-depth information (species, management authority, fishing method, year established, etc.) for over 900 catch shares found throughout the world.
CCST’s Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Plan
I was initially hired to conduct a management assessment of CCST’s Science and Technology Policy Fellowship. CCST subsequently requested that I conduct strategic planning for the Fellowship program and for the whole organization. This document is the public version of my strategic planning work for the Fellowship.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Petition
I wrote this petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to request that the government formally apply to protect red coral within the International CITES treaty. This was one of the few proposals that the government approved.
Ocean Enterprise Strategy
This document presents an overview of the strategy I outlined for Ocean Enterprise and the need for private capital to help fishermen transition to catch shares.
Guerrilla Science
This report summarizes a two-day conference to combine the power of science and creatives.
Turning the Tide
As a contractor to the World Bank, I wrote this document as part of the launch of their new global fisheries program.
Solar Blogging
SunPower Foundation—Changing the Way the World Is Powered
The SunPower Foundation is working to “change the way the world is powered.” The Foundation supports on-the-ground installation projects for rural communities in places like Mexico and the Philippines, as well as curriculum development for schools.
Bright Future Seen for ‘Bite-Size’ Solar Power
Twenty-five solar industry and regulatory leaders shared data and forecast a positive future, especially for small-scale projects, at the third Solar Electric Utility Conference hosted by PHOTON International Thursday in San Francisco.
Chinese Solar Power Panel Lights Up Investment
During the 2010 Solar Power Finance & Investment Summit in San Diego, a large crowd learned that Chinese companies have cash and interest in the US solar energy market, yet partnerships require patience and low risk.
Permits and Financing Bring ‘Day of Reckoning’ for Solar
2010 will be a day of reckoning for solar projects that have been announced,” said Mark McLanahan, CEO at Renewable Ventures, a Fotowatio company.
Scientific Publications
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Genetic Structure of Populations of the Red Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. Patty Debenham, Mark Brzezinski, Kathy Foltz, Steven Gaines. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
253 (2000): 49–62. Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Journal of Molecular Evolution
Evaluation of Sequence Variation and Selection in the Binding Locus of the Red Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. Patty Debenham, Mark A. Brzezinski, Kathy R. Foltz. Journal of Molecular Evolution 51 (2000): 481–90. Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara. Accepted: 2 August 2000.
University of California Thesis
Molecular Approaches to Assessing Red Sea Urchin Populations. Ph.D. Thesis. 1998.