Law and Science

Baker has hands-on experience connecting law, science, and policy in management, government, and advisory roles, including:

– Executive Director, North Pacific Research Board (2016-2020), an Alaska-based marine science body supporting pressing fisheries management needs and ecosystem research. Baker directed NPRB’s support of natural and social science research, including major multi-year integrated ecosystem studies of the Arctic Ocean and Northern Bering Sea. She worked with multi-disciplinary panels of scientists, and with federal and state managers and policy makers, subsistence communities, commercial and sport fishing interests, conservation groups, universities and research institutions to build trust, relationships, and a focus on shared research needs.

– Visiting Scholar, U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Task Force at the U.S. Department of State (2012-2013), coordinating the work of oceanographers, geologists, geographers and lawyers to produce key documents in support of U.S. sovereign rights to the extended continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from U.S. baselines.

– Recent scientific advisory board member for Japan’s flagship Arctic research program, the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS II); JUSTNORTH, an EU-funded climate action project; National Academy of Sciences Polar Research Board (US); and the Arctic Centre Scientific Advisory Board (Finland).

Baker also works to improve scientists’ access for marine research in other jurisdictions, and to strengthen mechanisms for ensuring that decision makers have access to the best available science and information.