Tanya Torres
Marine Debris Research Associate
Tanya Torres is the Marine Debris Research Associate for California Sea Grant’s extension program where she supports various projects that address the prevention and removal of marine debris in California. She helps to oversee projects, sits on project advisory committees, and leads outreach and education activities.
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As a Research Associate of the Extension Program, Torres coordinates with funded scientists, agency partners, California Sea Grant extension specialists and the communications team to gather, synthesize and disseminate research findings to relevant stakeholders. She leads meetings, workshops and focus groups to ensure community input and facilitate two-way dialogue.
Torres has a broad background in natural resource management, marine debris, waste management, and stakeholder engagement. She was previously a California Sea Grant Extension Fellow with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program where she led over 50 partners in the state of California’s marine debris action plan, titled the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy.
Tanya earned a M.S. and B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Expertise
- Natural resource management
- Marine debris, waste management, waste reduction
- Stakeholder engagement
- Data analysis and visualization