Anne Simonis

Dr. Anne Simonis is an Adjunct Professor of Biology at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and a contractor with NOAA Fisheries. Her research focuses on acoustic ecology, marine mammal behavior, and human impacts on ocean ecosystems, including ocean noise and fishery interactions. She holds a PhD in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2017) and previously served as a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences. Dr. Simonis co-leads the Collaborative Ocean Research Experience (CORE), a program connecting high school students with researchers to conduct authentic acoustic monitoring and conservation studies. Her work bridges science and education, emphasizing mentorship and curriculum development aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Key initiatives include developing classroom materials using real-world oceanographic data and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, government agencies, and the military.

Her research projects include the ADRIFT initiative studying offshore soundscapes in the California Current, investigations into seal bomb impacts on harbor porpoises, and acoustic analysis of false killer whale interactions with Hawaiian longline fisheries. Dr. Simonis collaborates with institutions such as the Estuary and Ocean Science Center (SFSU), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and NOAA, contributing to policy-relevant studies on marine mammal conservation. She has published extensively in journals like the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Marine Ecology Progress Series, and Frontiers in Marine Science.

Dr. Simonis' educational efforts involve designing lesson plans for K-12 teachers, integrating authentic scientific practices into classrooms, and mentoring students through fieldwork and data analysis. She emphasizes the importance of global service learning and science communication, often involving students in publishing peer-reviewed papers and presenting at academic conferences.