Pamela Martin

Pamela Martin is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Coastal Carolina University since 1999. She founded the RISE Center (UN Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development) and directs the CCU Solar Ambassador team, advancing sustainability through community engagement. A 2015 HTC Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Lecturer Award recipient, she specializes in global environmental politics, energy policy, and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

• Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park
• 2008 Fulbright Scholar at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
• Co-editor of award-winning 'Ending the Fossil Fuel Era'
• 2021 MIT book on Earth Jurisprudence and SDGs

Her research examines rights of nature jurisprudence in Ecuador's constitutional rulings, oil extraction conflicts in the Amazon, and legal frameworks for ecosystem protection. Recent work explores integrating UN SDGs into local communities via the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation partnership and Sustain SC fellowships.

Scientific awards include:

• HTC Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Lecturer Award (2015)
• ISA Environmental Studies Best Book Award (2015)

Martin's 15 most recent articles (2015-2025) focus on rights of nature litigation, UN SDG implementation, transnational environmental governance, and post-extractive policy models. They reveal trends in Earth Jurisprudence, global sustainability norm-building, and conflicts between development and conservation.

She contributes to community sustainability through paid student internships and public education programs, while maintaining active international collaborations with Ecuadorian institutions. Her work bridges academic research, policy advocacy, and grassroots implementation.