Karen Alexander

Dr. Karen Alexander is an Associate Professor in Marine Governance and Blue Economy at Heriot-Watt University's International Centre for Island Technology. She holds adjunct roles at the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Her affiliations include the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society and the Institute for Life and Earth Sciences.

Education: PhD in Marine Science from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)/University of Aberdeen. Prior roles include research at SAMS and the Centre for Marine Socio-ecology in Australia. She has managed over $60M in UK/Australian research projects as Principal Investigator.

Research focuses on marine socio-ecology, environmental stewardship, and governance challenges in transitioning to a blue economy. Key areas include offshore renewable energy impacts, aquaculture sustainability, coastal community dynamics, and ecosystem-based management. Her work addresses marine spatial planning, resource conflicts, and equitable resource allocation across estuarine/coastal systems.

Recent publications examine Blue Economy economic impacts, aquaculture governance frameworks, Antarctic marine protection, and health benefits of ocean conservation. She contributes to global networks like the Marine Social Science Network and ICES Working Group on Aquaculture Economics.

Grants & Leadership: Director of Orkney Renewable Energy Forum. Secretary of Marine Social Science Network. Collaborates internationally on Antarctic policy and coastal development projects. Active in UN Sustainable Development Goals related to ocean health and sustainable communities.