Dr Yolanda Waters

Yolanda is a dive instructor turned marine social scientist who is passionate about encouraging community climate action and protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems. Yolanda believes that the most powerful way she can make a difference is by using her research and communication skills to inform evidence-based campaign strategies and contribute to building strong community engagement across a range of contexts. Her PhD research explored the diverse connections between people and iconic marine ecosystems, such as the Great Barrier Reef, and whether these connections provide a unique pathway for strengthening public engagement with climate action. Yolanda has worked closely with several collaborative partners and end-users including the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and the Great Barrier Reef tourism industry. Her research interests include environmental psychology, behaviour change, effective climate change and marine conservation outreach (evidence-based communication and engagement strategies), nature-based tourism and marine socio-ecology. Yolanda is also the founder and CEO of community-led non-profit, Divers for Climate.

You can learn more about Yolanda’s work here: https://yolandaleewaters.wixsite.com/yolanda-lee-waters or at www.diversforclimate.com