Brooke Love

Brooke Love is a Professor in the Environmental Science department at Western Washington University, with significant affiliation at the Shannon Point Marine Center as part of the MIMSUP program. Her office is located in ES 445, MS9181, and she maintains office hours on Tuesdays from 1-3 PM.

Education:

• PhD and MS in Chemical Oceanography, University of Washington
• BS in Engineering Geology, Stanford University

Professor Love's research centers on two critical marine science domains: Hydrothermal Systems and Ocean Acidification. In hydrothermal research, she investigates dissolved gases in black smokers and low-temperature vents to unravel biosphere-hydrosphere-geosphere linkages, emphasizing the need for high-resolution sensor technology. Her ocean acidification work examines CO₂ impacts on marine ecosystems, particularly calcifying organisms like coccolithophorids and near-shore habitats such as eelgrass beds, where photosynthesis drives significant pH fluctuations. This NSF-funded research combines field studies at Shannon Point Marine Lab with laboratory analysis to predict ecological consequences of changing ocean chemistry.

Advising and Funding: She currently advises Ariel Shiley on herring proteomics related to temperature shifts, and has recently mentored Nicole Singh (forage fish acidification effects), Cristina Villalobos (herring egg/larval development under acidification), and Tyler Tran (eelgrass density impacts on CO₂ drawdown). While NSF grants support her research, she notes insufficient funding for new graduate students in the coming year.

Research Infrastructure: Her work operates through the Shannon Point Marine Center, where she utilizes specialized facilities for hydrothermal sensor development and controlled ocean acidification experiments, collaborating with interdisciplinary marine science teams to address climate change impacts on Pacific Northwest ecosystems.