Biography
Maureen is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Professional Geologist (PG) with over 30 years of technical project management and people leadership experience in environmental geology and groundwater science. Maureen joined the Centre of Expertise for Waters, CREW in 2022. Before joining CREW, Maureen was the Hydrogeologist for the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington State, USA. Previously, Maureen was a Groundwater Sciences Team Leader for Environment Canterbury, New Zealand.
Maureen holds a MSc in Science Communication, University of Edinburgh, a MS in Quaternary Studies, University of Maine and a BS in Geology, State University of New York.
Research
Research
CREW delivers evidence needed to implement regulations on protecting and improving the water environment. As a Project Manager with CREW, Maureen works with the CREW Manager, Nikki Dodd, and the rest of the team to coordinate expert advice for policy needs on ongoing and emerging opportunities and challenges in areas such as water quality & health, a net-zero circular economy & societal perceptions of water issues. The CREW team engage with a wide range of information users and communities, to maximise the benefits of the research to society.
CREW aims to:
- Deliver timely and accurate advice
- Coordinate and fund research, analysis and interpretation
- Stimulate innovative and proactive thinking
- Develop an ethos of co-production and genuine knowledge exchange
- Develop the networks and skills of researchers, policy makers and practitioners to make best use of available science leading to improved environmental, social and economic outcomes.
Past research
Maureen completed a Masters of Science in Science Communication and Public Engagement at the University of Edinburgh in 2024. Her dissertation titled ‘Public engagement with science and science tourism in UK geoparks: A comparative analysis of current online practice’. This study conducted a quantitative and qualitative comparative analysis of 12 UK geoparks’ current online (website) geoscience communication and public engagement practices using a systematic analysis framework of six components and a comparison to good/best practice. Each website exhibited an individual approach under a generalised structure. The variability was found to be related to the degree and nature of association with wider natural and cultural heritage organisations, availability/expertise of geopark personnel, and outside partnerships with academic institutions and local tourism operators. The geoparks’ website communications were then used to map the level of ‘embeddedness’ of each geopark in three areas: geoscience, the geotourism industry, and the geotourist experience.
Maureen completed a Masters of Science in Quaternary Studies at the University of Maine, USA in 1989. Her dissertation titled ‘Paleogeographic Reconstruction of the Roque Island Area, Maine: 14,000 years BP to present’ included mapping the Quaternary (last 2 million years) coastal geology of the Roque Island, Maine area with focus on last deglaciation. This information was used to support the generation of paleogeographic maps of the changing shoreline position due to the complex interaction of glacial retreat, sea level rise and land subsidence during the last 14,000 years. She also holds a Bachelors of Science in Geology from the State University of New York.
