Dr Pamela Buchan

Dr Pamela Buchan is an interdisciplinary marine scientist whose work spans marine biology, coastal zone management and marine social science, with a particular focus on how people act as marine citizens in shaping a sustainable future for the ocean. 

Before joining the University of Exeter as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Pamela held a research position at the University of Cambridge, Institute for Sustainability Leadership and completed an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her work is strongly impact‑driven, leading to the development of the Ocean Recovery Declaration, a pioneering framework for embedding marine citizenship into local and national governance. 

Pamela brings extensive experience in public engagement with science and has contributed directly to marine decision‑making through her elected term on Plymouth City Council and her current roles as Vice Chair of the Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Cattewater Harbour Commissioner. She has collaborated with well-known organisations, including the Ocean Conservation Trust, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, The Crown Estate, Defra, Natural England, WWF, and the Coastal Partnerships Network. 

With a PhD in Environment, Energy & Resilience from the University of Exeter and a career dedicated to bringing together research and community action, Pamela brings real-world impact to the field of marine governance. Her work was recognised in 2022 with the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize – Outstanding Early Career Impact, highlighting her leadership in advancing marine citizenship and ocean recovery.