Christine Mantegna
University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Science, MS
Driven by her passion for orcas, coffee, and grunge, Chris moved from Baltimore, Maryland, to the Pacific Northwest. Her research focuses on nearshore ecosystem assessment and environmental literacy, applying geographical frameworks like Black Ecologies & Geographies, Black Feminist STS, and Environmental Justice to explore questions surrounding waterway access, quality, and conservation.
Her work is deeply rooted in the Salish Sea and Puget Sound—her adopted home and Chesapeake Bay, where her journey began. Using molecular and spatial analysis tools, she delves into characterizing nearshore ecosystems through the lens of big data. To build connection between her community and that of the larger Salish Sea community, she delivers an annual summer mentorship program, helping train the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists.