معرفی
Brian Szuster serves as Professor and Undergraduate Chair in the Department of Geography at the University of Hawai‘i, where he also contributes to the UH Center for Southeast Asian Studies as an executive committee member. His academic leadership spans teaching, research supervision, and community engagement with Hawai‘i state agencies on coastal resource management.
His educational background includes a PhD in Geography from the University of Victoria (2001), MA from Simon Fraser University (1992), and BSc (Honors) from the University of Alberta (1986). These qualifications underpin his expertise in coastal systems and resource governance.
Szuster’s research centers on sustainable seafood production in Thailand and coastal tourism in Hawaiʻi, examining social-environmental impacts of aquaculture and tourism development. His work reveals critical tensions between resource use and conservation, particularly in high-demand coastal zones where over 50% of Americans reside. He emphasizes community-based solutions for shrimp farming, oyster aquaculture, and marine tourism management.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications shows consistent focus on human dimensions of coastal management, with emerging emphasis on climate adaptation frameworks since 2015. His tourism studies increasingly address user conflict and carrying capacity, while aquaculture work integrates local knowledge into spatial planning.
- CSS Excellence in Teaching Award (2010)
As a dedicated mentor, Szuster has supervised 12 graduate students through MA theses and PhD dissertations, with current advisees researching manta ray tourism conflicts and community-supported fisheries. His externally funded projects include statewide studies for Hawai‘i DLNR on Molokini Shoal and Kona manta ray sites, totaling over $500,000 in recent grants. He co-chaired the 8th International Congress on Coastal and Marine Tourism and leads the Tourism Geography Lab, which conducts fieldwork in Hawai‘i and Southeast Asia.
The lab operates through collaborative teams including graduate researchers, state agency partners, and international collaborators at Burapha University (Thailand), focusing on real-time data collection for marine recreation management and climate adaptation planning.
