Stephannie Fernandes
Research Interests:
Social Ecological Systems, Political Ecology, Transboundary Freshwater Governance, River protection policy, Hydropower, Sustainability
Bio:
Stephannie’s research takes a mixed-methods approach to explore the political ecology of freshwater resources. Her focus is on understanding the social-ecological dynamics of the Amazon Basin and examining strategies for advancing public policies that protect freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity. Before joining FIU, Stephannie earned her MSc in Environmental Science and Policy at Northern Arizona University. Her academic background has allowed her to contribute to projects safeguarding the Xingu Indigenous Territories in the Brazilian Amazon and to publish scientific studies on river conservation. Currently, her PhD research centers on evaluating policies and identifying opportunities to protect migratory fish in the Amazon Basin. This study addresses calls at the intersection of human geography and environmental science, bridging gaps in our understanding of the relationships between rivers, fish, and politics at different scales.