Speaker:Miriah M. Russo Kelly, Associate Professor, Department of the Environment, Geography & Marine Sciences, Southern Connecticut State University

Topic: The Ocean Identity Initiative is a collaborative research agenda developed in response to calls within the UN Ocean Decade to “restore society’s relationship with the ocean” and strengthen society-ocean connections. In response to this global priority, and in consideration of ocean program needs, the Initiative advances Ocean Identity (OI) as a novel construct for examining how individuals engage with, experience, and understand ocean environments through the lens of human identity. Drawing on interdisciplinary foundations in environmental psychology, identity theory, place connectedness, and marine social science, this research conceptualizes OI as a multidimensional construct encompassing the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of individuals’ relationships with the ocean. This presentation will highlight existing and ongoing Ocean Identity research projects, introduce emerging research findings and tools, and identify opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and sectors. Resources and approaches with potential applications for ocean-focused programs, initiatives, and interventions will also be shared. The presentation will conclude by exploring future directions for Ocean Identity research and its potential to advance understanding of human-ocean relationships, strengthen the social science foundations of ocean sustainability, and foster greater collaboration across ocean research, policy, education, and practice.