Emma McKinley

Dr Emma McKinley is a Senior Research Fellow at Cardiff University's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, where she has been based since 2016. An expert in marine social sciences, she focuses on understanding the complex relationship between society and the sea, examining diverse perceptions, attitudes, and values held by different communities and audiences to support effective ocean governance.

Dr McKinley holds a BSc in Marine Biology from the University of Stirling, an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection from the University of Wales, Bangor, and a PhD from the University of Bournemouth examining marine citizenship in UK marine and coastal management. As an experienced mixed-methods researcher, she applies diverse techniques across her work, bridging natural and social science perspectives.

Her research spans marine spatial planning, ecosystem services, public perceptions of marine issues, coastal community resilience, and the Blue Growth agenda. She has developed strong working relationships with government bodies, the United Nations Environment Programme – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), NGOs including the RSPB and Marine Conservation Society, and partners across Northern Europe. Her work emphasizes community and stakeholder engagement at local, regional, national, and international scales to inform marine policy and governance.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on ocean literacy, marine social science integration, and the human dimensions of marine governance. Her work demonstrates increasing attention to interdisciplinary approaches that bridge natural and social sciences, with growing emphasis on community engagement, cultural connections to the ocean, and policy-relevant research that addresses the UN Ocean Decade goals.

Dr McKinley is the Founder and Chair of the Marine Social Science Network, Chair of the Royal Geographical Society's Coastal and Marine Research Group, and serves on the UK's Marine Science Coordinating Committee's Social Science Task Group and Working Group on Ocean Literacy and Communication. She also sits on Welsh Government groups including the Wales Marine Advisory and Action Group and the Marine Planning Stakeholder Reference Group.

As an active supervisor, she mentors postgraduate students across marine social sciences topics. She serves as Interim Manager of the Severn Estuary Partnership, supporting community and stakeholder engagement activities including the Natural Resources Wales funded 'Discover the Severn' project. Her public outreach includes participation in NERC's 'UnEarthed' Event, Soapbox Science Cardiff, Pint of Science, and Eisteddfod events.