2022 - 2023
Supported the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Ocean Protection Council (OPC), and the Fish and Game Commission (FGC) to design and implement an outreach strategy to communicate and connect with California’s ocean community about the MPA Decadal Management Review. Working with OPC and CDFW, together with a network of Key Communicators, our team built a two-way engagement strategy to help raise awareness and manage expectations ahead of the review. Additionally, we worked with California Native Nations to help inform the development of the Decadal Management Review report.
Strategic Earth supported the state’s engagement with Native Nations and the ocean community by identifying communication channels, distilling information about the Decadal Management Review, and planning and facilitating virtual events.
2023 - 2024
Designed the two-day agenda to foster increased awareness of West Coast Tribal cultural, historical, and Treaty rights and discussion on appropriate integration into the offshore wind energy planning process. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about and reflect on the East Coast's science and planning processes, and identify strategies and lessons learned to apply to West Coast regional coordination.
Provided space for WCOA members to have in-depth conversations on Tribal, state, and federal government priorities and needs for a coordinated regional approach and promote collaboration and action planning.
Supported the West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA) to design and facilitate a forum for Tribal, federal, and state member governments to engage with invited speakers to both: establish a foundational common understanding of key elements of science, planning, and management activities related to offshore wind energy, as well as create an initial framework to help define the Alliance’s role in supporting members with their offshore wind communication, collaboration, and coordination needs for improving science, planning, stewardship, and management efforts.
Planned, facilitated, and coordinated speakers to provide a foundational understanding of scientific research related to the impacts of offshore wind energy on coastal ecosystems and communities, followed by learning about West Coast policy and planning activities to define regional needs and inform intergovernmental coordination opportunities in the West Coast region.
West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA) Offshore Wind Summit
2022 - 2024
Lead the project management for an Ocean Conservancy team composed of fishery scientists and modelers from the Ocean Conservancy, University of Oxford, Arizona State University, and the University of Wisconsin with project management services to advance the development of a bioeconomic model of Eastern Pacific Tropical Tuna fisheries for evaluating the performance of management options in achieving long-term sustainability.
Provided facilitation and project management support for the Project Team to meet key deadlines and track core deliverables until completion. With an eye toward target audience perceptions and information accessibility, our team was also providing guidance on key messaging, framing, and flow for key external meetings.
Project Management for the Ocean Conservancy focused on Fisheries Modeling Development
2023 - 2025
Worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to organize, convene, and facilitate a Community Working Group (CWG) that was representative of the various sectors and regions across California, including but not limited to Tribal representatives, NGOs, local businesses, academics, and harvesters. Over the course of multiple years the CWG informed the development of the KRMP focusing on cultural and community insights around a variety of topics including but not limited to restoration, ecosystem-based management, and harvest.
2022 - 2025
Assisted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Ocean Protection Council in leading and facilitating a legislatively mandated Dungeness Crab Task Force (DCTF). This body included commercial and recreational fishing interests, processors, commercial passenger fishing vessels, non-governmental organizations, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Sea Grant.
Supported all aspects of the DCTF operations, including strategic planning, project management and coordination, research and drafting of technical and non-technical reports, policy navigation, and the facilitation of public meetings.
Project Work while at Strategic Earth
My obsession with the ocean started when I was SCUBA diving in Florida and truly saw the ocean for the first time. As soon as I went under, the world around me changed. An innumerable amount of fish and plant species popped up. Every color imaginable was spread across the ocean floor like a canvas painted by Jackson Pollock. I felt as if I was suspended in animation, with a highway of life moving all around me. I had traveled to another universe. From that day on, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life in the ocean.
I began taking actions to dedicate my life to pursuing marine conservation, restoration, and preservation. Since then, I have worked as a professional relationship builder specializing in connecting natural resource management science, policy, and community engagement on the west coast of the United States. I built connections by liaising with industry, government, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen, mend, and build relationships with key stakeholder communities within the marine realm. A critical part of my role involved bridging the gaps between science and policy, ensuring that stakeholders had a comprehensive understanding of the scientific and policy aspects required to make informed decisions.
My personal passion and interests revolve around blue carbon ecosystems. These coastal wetlands are significantly more effective at sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon compared to their terrestrial counterparts. I had the pleasure of working on a project analyzing international, national, and California coastal policies to understand how they could be amended to be more inclusive and protective of these ecosystems. In 2024, I was invited to join Restore America’s Estuaries Blue Carbon National Working Group, where I attended an in-person meeting in Washington D.C. with the goal to advance connections between existing science and policy. It is critical that the most up-to-date research is utilized to inform and shape our country's policies. Nature based solutions exist and the blue economy can support the mitigation of climate change through coastal carbon sequestration and storage projects.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities and individuals, both at Strategic Earth Consulting and Coastal Quest, that contributed to shaping my understanding of natural resource management, blue carbon. and consulting work. You are wonderful teachers, mentors, and friends. I sincerely look forward to collaborating with you in the future.
About Scarlett
2025
Current Project Work
Carbon Takeback Obligation
The Carbon Takeback Obligation is an emerging policy idea that places responsibility for long-term carbon storage on the fossil fuel industry. In collaboration with American University under Dr. Wil Burns, I conducted desktop research into a range of existing economic structures — from producer responsibility models to sector-specific levies — to explore how they might be adapted for a carbon takeback framework. My focus was on understanding which strategies could strengthen public acceptance and make this policy more politically viable. The outcome of this work is a memo that distills complex economic approaches into a clear, comparative analysis that can help guide next steps for this promising climate solution.
Transforming complex scientific research into actionable policy recommendations, technical deliverables, and accessible communication tools. Bringing hands-on research expertise to inform management strategies and stakeholder understanding.
Examples
-
Blue Carbon National Working Group – Helped shape the Coastal Restoration Act (H.R. 9912) by connecting blue carbon research with legislative priorities.
-
Blue Carbon Policy Review – Authored a white paper on policy gaps for wetland ecosystem inclusion in carbon crediting programs.
-
Oxylipin and Oyster Larval Development – NOAA-funded study at UC Berkeley identifying oxylipins as a driver of shellfish deformities; developed standardized sampling protocols.
-
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) & Ranavirus Tracking – Multi-year amphibian disease tracking project in Pennsylvania vernal ponds, including independent research on Ranavirus outbreaks.
-
Field-based Geochemistry Instruction – Led estuary water chemistry sampling in Point Reyes National Seashore as Lead Teaching Assistant for UC Berkeley.
Science-to-Policy Translation & Technical Communication
Design and delivery of inclusive workshops, summits, and planning sessions to achieve actionable outcomes. Adept at fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
Examples
-
Kelp Restoration Management Plan – Facilitated multi-year Community Working Group to integrate cultural, ecological, and community insights into California’s kelp restoration strategy.
-
Climate Resilient Fisheries Management: Risks & Rewards Workshop – Coordinated national convening for fishery managers, scientists, and stakeholders to advance ecosystem-based fisheries management.
-
West Coast Ocean Alliance Offshore Wind Summit – Planned and facilitated a two-day forum for Tribal, federal, and state governments to shape offshore wind energy coordination, integrating Tribal cultural priorities into planning.
Strategic Planning & Facilitation
Full-cycle coordination for marine resource management, climate policy initiatives, and stakeholder-led planning processes. Skilled in balancing technical, political, and community priorities to keep projects on time, on budget, and outcome-driven.
Examples
-
Dungeness Crab Task Force – Managed legislative-mandate operations for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ocean Protection Council, engaging fishing sectors, NGOs, processors, and agencies.
-
Project Management for the Ocean Conservancy – Oversaw multi-university bioeconomic modeling effort for Eastern Pacific tropical tuna fisheries, tracking milestones and coordinating communication strategies.
-
Marine Protected Area Decadal Management Review – Designed outreach and engagement strategy to connect Native Nations and California’s ocean community with the review process.
Project & Stakeholder Management
Consulting & Services
2016 - 2018
While at Bucknell University, tracked the spread of several amphibian diseases throughout vernal ponds across Pennsylvania as species ranges expanded due to climate change shifting their northern boundaries. During my first year, with a team of undergraduate and graduate student researchers, I was tasked with tracking the spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a deadly salamander fungus, through Pennsylvania vernal ponds. I conducted field research to swap and collect toe clippings for DNA analysis. During my second year, I was granted the privilege of conducting an independent study on a frog mass mortality event in these same vernal ponds to determine if the event was due to the northern spread of Ranavirus.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Ranavirus Disease Tracking
2020
Conducted a desktop literature review on international, national, and California state laws during an internship at Coastal Quest for the Ocean Protection Council. Documented existing blue carbon policy and suggested amendments that would make them more inclusive of wetland ecosystems. Researched ways individuals and countries could mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions via carbon crediting programs. Developed a white paper summarizing all results.
Overview of Policy Affecting Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Internationally, Nationally, and in California
2021 - 2022
Studied the effects of oxylipin presence on oyster development under Dr. Bethanie Edwards at the University of California Berkeley. As part of a NOAA funded grant, we tested and observed how oxylipin toxin levels affected the different larval stages. Prior to this research, oxylipins were found to negatively influence copepods and sea urchin development, however, their effects on shellfish were previously unknown.
Together, we tested multiple methods of water sampling and storage to reduce the likelihood of new oxylipins forming when samples were in transit from a partner farm in Maine. These findings were used to create a standardized procedure for the Edwards lab.
Oxylipin and Oyster Larval Development
Reserach Work
With a team organized by City Island Oyster Reef and their partner The Surfrider Foundation, over 500 oysters, 50+ mud crabs and vaseworms, and the occasional skilletfish, shrimp, mussel, and sea anemone were counted and catalogued for their ongoing Oyster Reef monitoring program.
City Island Oyster Reef started this monitoring program to assess the best location for a larger scale oyster reef installation. Each of the four sites is regularly checked each month to monitor a number of factors including, but not limited to growth, survivability, and biodiversity that the oyster reef is bringing back to Long Island Sound estuary. Oysters are also incredible filter feeders, cleaning the water from pollution, carbon dioxide, and can be natural protection for our shorelines from environmental disasters.
Oyster Cage and Biodiversity Educational Monitoring
2025
Volunteer Work
May 2022, Earth and Planetary Science Department at the University of California Berkeley
Presentation – “Oxylipins and Oyster Larval Deformities” – First ever research to identify and conclude biotoxins as the leading cause for larval deformities in oyster and overall shellfish genus
April 2017, National Science and Humanities Symposium, San Diego CA
Poster – “Biomechanical Prediction for Velocity” – Pendulum Formula as it elates to prosthetic leg construction
April 2017, The Kalman Research Symposium, Bucknell University, Lewisburg PA
Presentation – Presented with Lab Group - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) Salamander Research
March 2017, Pennsylvania Science and Humanities Symposium, Juniata College, Huntington PA
Presentation – “Biomechanical Prediction for Velocity” – Pendulum Formula as it relates to prosthetic leg construction
Academic Reserach Presentations
Schroeder, Scarlett M., (2018). Biomechanics of Velocity, SCIENCE BUZZ, 2018 Stem Symposium – Engineering, Physics.
Academic Publication
Schroeder, Scarlett. M., (2022). Oxylipin and Oyster Larval Development. University of California Berkeley, Senior Honors Thesis in the Earth and Planetary Science Department.
Schroeder, Scarlett. M., (2020). An Overview of Policy Affecting Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Internationally, Nationally, and in California, Coastal Quest.
Reserach Papers
Publications & Writings
July 2024, Public Participation and Community Engagement within the Private Sector
Presentation – 15-minute presentation at the first International Association of Public Participation Young Professional Network Guest Speaker event
May 2024, Linking Science & Policy Through Community Engagement
Presentation – 30-minute presentation at the 2024 Early Career Leadership Workshop for Delta Steward and Sea Grant Fellows. Co-presenter with Priya Shukla, Strategic Earth Consulting
October 2024, The Power of Vulnerability to Create Meaning in Community Engagement
Presentation – 3-hour workshop at the 2024 International Association of Public Participation North American Conference. Co-presenters with Noelia Aponte-Silva, Sara Gené, and Teresa Romero Strategic Earth Consulting
September 2023, Daring Leadership and Appreciative Inquiry Practices for Co-creating Community Engagement
Presentation – 1.5-hour workshop. 2023 International Association of Public Participation North American Conference. Co-presenters with Sara Gené, Strategic Earth Consulting, and Kara Schmitt, Rocky Mountain Center for Positive Change