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FACULTY RESEARCH EXPERTISE

Environmental Policy and Social Sciences

Chris Parsons

Chris Parsons, Associate Professor (Term)
PhD University of Hong Kong
MA Oxford University

Research Focus: Marine Mammals and Conservation

Web Site: http://www.marinepolicy.net/cparsons

Office: DK 3033

Phone: 703-993-1211

Email: Click Here

Dr. Chris Parsons has been involved in whale and dolphin research for over a decade and has conducted projects in South Africa, India, China and the Caribbean as well as the UK. He is currently involved in research projects on coastal dolphin populations in the Caribbean and the effectiveness of marine conservation policy. Dr. Parsons started teaching at George Mason University in 2003 and is currently the Undergraduate Coordinator for marine biology, environmental science and conservation biology.

Before moving to the US, Dr. Parsons was the Director of the Research and Education Departments of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT), from 1998 until 2003. Prior to this, he was involved in research on Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises in Hong Kong and China, which involved studies on the behavior and ecology of Hong Kong's cetaceans, marine pollution and its effects on marine life.

An acknowledged international expert on cetaceans, Dr Parsons has been a member of the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission since 1999. He was awarded a Fellowship by the Royal Geographical Society in 1997, won a Scottish Thistle Award in 2000 for his work in Environmental Tourism, and was acknowledged a young achiever in Scotland for his achievements in cetacean conservation by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1999.

In 2009, he was the Secretariat Director for the first International Marine Conservation Congress, which was held at George Mason University –the largest marine conservation academic conferences ever held to date.  He is currently the Marine Section President and a Governor of the Society for Conservation Biology. In addition, Dr Parsons has published over 100 scientific papers and reports and is currently writing a textbook on marine mammal biology & conservation.