Carmen Elrick-Barr

Biography

Carmen is a human geographer whose research focuses on the human dimensions of coastal conservation and management, at the nexus of social science and policy. She explores the governance of coastal and marine areas, community vulnerability, capacity, and engagement. Carmen’s research currently address three intersecting themes:

Vulnerability, adaptive capacity, adaptation, and transformation:

Through her work, Carmen has established a reputation for advancing adaptive capacity discourse, particularly at the household scale. This work builds on over ten years practice delivering climate change adaptation support to local and national governments, predominantly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Coastal policy and governance

This theme explores the governance of coastal and marine areas, asking how institutional instruments, social norms and values, power and politics influence the capacity to reform governance arrangements for more equitable and sustainable futures.

Social values and engagement in marine and coastal planning and management:

The challenges facing coastal areas require transformative change – which is most feasible when the destination (target) is clear. This theme explores (i) approaches to collectively generate preferred futures, through citizen engagement and understanding social values, and (ii) valuing marine and coastal stewardship.

Research areas

1. Human geography
2. Climate change adaptation
3. Coastal management
4. Policy and institutional analysis

Professional memberships

1. Australian Coastal Society, WA State Chair
2. Future Earth Coasts, Future Fellow
3. Chair, Western Australian Coastal and Marine Network

Expert media commentary

Carmen Elrick-Barr’s areas of expertise include coastal governance, adaptation, adaptive capacity, institutional analysis and policy review.