In addition to my scientific research interests in biodiversity of coastal waters and estuarine ecology, I have worked as a coastal environmental policy expert at the federal and state levels, which included authorship of an innovative coastal buffer policy for Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Management Council. As Executive Director of the Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting at URI, I develop and implement science training programs for professional journalists to promote clear and accurate reporting of environmental news. I am also interested in how scientists convey their research to the public, and I work with URI faculty, staff, and graduate students to improve their communication with the press.