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Conner Muir Smith

I'm always interested in collaborating on new work.

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I am a writer by trade but my core capacities also include policy work, data analysis, and strategic thinking. 

Education

2021 - 2023

University of California at Santa Barbara

Master of Environmental Science and Management (4.0 GPA)


Specializations: Economics and Politics of the Environment, Coastal Marine Resources Management
Focus: Strategic Environmental Communication and Media


Highlighted Coursework: Coastal Marine Policy and Management, Advanced Data Analysis, Coastal Marine 
Ecosystem Processes, Economics and Policy of Climate Change, Environmental Policy Analysis 


Master’s Group Project (Thesis Equivalent): Conservation Planning and Management around Surf Breaks; Client: Conservation International

2013 - 2017

University of California at Berkeley

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics and Policy (3.9 GPA)

 

Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies (3.9 GPA)

 

Honors: Dean’s List (8 semesters)

Experience

June 2023 - September 2023

Marine Science Institute/

Conservation International

Fellow – MPAs and Impact Investing 

• Collaborated on two separate projects under the CI Arnhold Fellowship within UCSB's EmLab

• Led review of global MPAs with attention to climate change action plans

• Presented study assessing impact investment programs across the ocean economy

• Built framework to assess negative outcomes from blue economy interventions

June 2022 - June 2023

Sustainable Ocean Alliance/

Environmental Defense Fund

Fellow – Leadership for Climate-Resilient Fisheries 

• Proposed and awarded $10k micro-grant through the Leadership for Climate-Resilient Fisheries Fellowship

• Coded digital reading list for policymakers highlighting Indigenous-led coastal management initiatives

• Authored NCEAS article promoting opportunities for Indigenous engagement through California MPA DMR

June 2022 - August 2022

The Nature Conservancy

Researcher – CA Oceans Program

• Executed contract with TNC staff to research and advise on kelp forest restoration activities

• Interviewed 25+ government, non-profit, industry, and private stakeholders to assess urchin removal methods and costs as a method to promote kelp recovery

• Produced a 20-page report identifying key opportunities to scale urchin removal workforce

November 2021 - August 2022

Ocean Analytics

Researcher – Federal and High Seas Fisheries

• Conducted comprehensive analysis of all 46 federally managed fisheries in the United States

• Articles published in Fish and Fisheries in December 2022 and April 2023

• Met with EDF, NOAA, and federal fisheries management councils on a regular basis to inform research

• Leveraged R software to process fishery stock assessment data and perform analyses

February 2019 - June 2021

Atlas Public Policy

Policy Analyst – Climate and Transportation Electrification

• Directed research, data collection, and writing for 2 reports funded by a large trade association connecting wildfires, air quality, COVID-19, environmental justice, and transportation electrification

• Managed project proposals for 5-figure contracts with partners including NGO, government, and private sector entities seeking to develop a living database of climate policies in the US

• Led data collection, report writing, and outreach for the Atlas EV Hub, a subscription-based platform that grew from 500 to 1,000+ professional users over this time

• Contributed original research and writing on a 6-figure government-funded study in Washington, revealing that WA could cost effectively electrify nearly all public vehicles by 2035

• Published 10+ research papers funded by partnerships with stakeholders in the clean transportation space

November 2023 - Present

Marine Science Institute/

EmLab

Staff Research Associate – MPAs and Climate Change 

• Researching the effects of climate change on MPA management within UCSB's EmLab

• Leading review of climate disasters in California fisheries

• Developing manual for best practices around climate- adaptive management

• Writing white paper on climate-smart fisheries management for federal and state funders

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February 2024 - Present

California Ocean Protection Council

Sea Grant Fellow - Marine Biodiversity

• Advancing Tribal co-management approaches for collaborative marine protection in California

• Assisting in the development of kelp recovery plans and next wave of restoration projects

• Coordinating between state agencies to deliver on the 30X30 campaign

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October 2018 - April 2021

Sierra Club

Researcher – Clean Transportation for All Campaign

• Created two Excel-based tools, three blog posts, and a buyer’s guide on a limited contract highlighting opportunities advance EV adoption across user groups

• Designed internal systems to organize data around the tracking of public investment in EVs and policy actions at the at the national, state, and local levels

• Wrote four journalistic pieces on transportation electrification for publishing on the primary website

June 2017 - October 2018

Clinton Foundation

Program Associate – Clinton Climate Initiative

• Simulated a country-wide adoption of 100% renewable energy in Belize using Excel and HOMER software, culminating in several presentations to 10+ elected officials

• Conducted research under a $5 million grant with partners at the Rocky Mountain Institute to develop long term clean energy roadmaps for island nations

• Helped secure $ millions in commitments from Clinton Global Initiative member organizations targeting disaster relief and climate resilience in regions impacted by devastating hurricanes in 2017

Get in Touch

(704) 654-1514

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