A fish out of water? A sociologist in environmental and marine resource management
SMAST East 101-103
: 836 S. Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford MA 02744
Callie Rumbut
c.rumbut@umassd.edu
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93758230260
Seminar Announcement
Department of Fisheries Oceanography
"A fish out of water? A sociologist in environmental and marine resource management"
Dr. Matthew Cutler
Social Scientist, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
3:00 - 4:00 pm
SMAST E 101-103 and via Zoom
Abstract:
While the physical sciences define how ecosystems are changing, sociology explains why these disruptions happen and who they affect most. This seminar explores the critical intersection of sociology and marine resource management, demonstrating how human institutions, cultural values, and economic structures shape coastal realities. Drawing from empirical research in fisheries management, I examine the complex interplay of environmental attitudes and beliefs that influence stakeholder behavior and policy compliance. Furthermore, I will discuss the utility of mixed-method sociological approaches—specifically combining large-scale surveys with qualitative, semi-structured interviews—to capture both broad public trends and deep, localized community insights. By showcasing how these social methodologies integrate with biophysical data, this session highlights how natural and social scientists can co-produce more equitable, actionable knowledge for sustainable ocean stewardship.
Matt Cutler is a Social Scientist working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Matt has also been an Agency Fellow with the JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His research has focused on public perceptions of climate change and other environmental issues, such as extreme weather events, urban development and sprawl, and commercial fisheries management. More broadly, he specializes in environmental and community sociology and has interests in health, natural resources, and public attitudes towards environmental policies. Matt received his PhD in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire in 2015 and completed postdoctoral training at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies as a member of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication from 2016 to 2018.
Join Meeting
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93758230260
Note: Meeting ID and passcode required. Email contact to obtain.
For additional information, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu