I am a Wisconsin native turned New York City transplant, but more recently have found myself in some of the most remote regions of the world. Before conducting environmental research, I studied filmmaking and later began a private practice in Rolfing—a form of manual therapy—that I still maintain intermittently today (for more information on my Rolfing practice, click here).
My love for being outdoors coupled with important projects with inspiring crew members has opened a new career path for me in environmental conservation, especially in polar regions most affected by climate change. Broadly, my research interests are in ethnobiology and climate change impacts on high latitude regions.
I’m currently a Master’s student at the University of Washington in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences under the direction of Dr. Kristin Laidre. Here I will analyze passive acoustic data of belugas and narwhals from the pack ice of West Greenland. Results will provide fundamental sonar parameters for these two species that will contribute to acoustic monitoring in the Arctic. This is especially important as the Arctic becomes more ice-free where vessel traffic and underwater noise are expected to increase.
EDUCATION
University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, MS in progress, Seattle, WA
Columbia University, Columbia College, BA in Environmental Biology, May 2016, New York, NY
European Rolfing Association, Rolfing Certification, Intensive Format, March 2012, Munich, Germany
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Marie Zahn Rolfing, Owner; Racine, WI and New York, NY; March 2012 – Present
University of Victoria and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Field Research Assistant; Sooke and Alert Bay, BC, Canada; August 2019
Native Village of Eyak, Biological Technician; field camp on the Copper River, AK; May – July 2019
Japan National Institute for Environmental Studies, Biological Technician, Sarufutsu, Japan; April 2019
US Antarctic Program, Long Term Ecological Research Project (LTER), Field Science Leader; Palmer Station, Antarctica; September 2018 – February 2019
Silver Bay Seafoods, Deckhand and Cook; Valdez, AK; June – August 2018
US Antarctic Program, Long Term Ecological Research Project (LTER), Field Science Leader; Palmer Station, Antarctica; October 2017 – March 2018
Prince William Sound Science Center, Biological Technician; Cordova, AK; July – September 2017
Project Bona Fide, Agroforestry Intern; Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua; May – June 2017
US Antarctic Program, Long Term Ecological Research Project (LTER), Field Research Assistant for Antarctic Oceanographic Cruise; West Antarctic Peninsula; December 2016 – February 2017
PUBLICATIONS
Zahn, M. J., M. I. Palmer, N. J. Turner. October 2018. “Everything we do, it’s cedar”: First Nation and Ecologically-Based Forester Land Management Philosophies in Coastal British Columbia. Journal of Ethnobiology 38(3): 314-332.
Zahn, M. and R. Allen. January 2017. “Understanding Pain.” Massage and Fitness Magazine. Vol. 8: 6-25.
Zahn, M. J. December 2015. First Nation and ecosystem-based foresters’ relationships and practices with western redcedar (Thuja plicata) in coastal British Columbia. Unpublished Senior Honors Undergraduate Thesis, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, NYC.
Zahn, M. December 2012. “A call for moral action to develop renewable energy sources.” The Racine Journal Times. Opinion piece. Online and print.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
“Alaska to Antarctica: Science near the Poles.” Invited speaker to 1st – 4th grade and faculty at The Prairie School. Racine, WI, September 2018.
“People of the Cedar: First Nation and ecosystem-based foresters’ relationships and practices with western redcedar.” Oral presentation of research at Wood at Work Conference. New York, NY, October 2016.
“‘Everything we do, it’s cedar’: First Nation and ecosystem-based foresters’ relationships and practices with western redcedar.” Poster presentation of research at Columbia University’s Office of Undergraduate Admission’s Science Research Symposia. New York, NY, April 2016.
“‘Everything we do, it’s cedar’: First Nation and ecosystem-based foresters’ relationships and practices with western redcedar.” Oral presentation of research at the 39th Annual Conference of the Society of Ethnobiology. Tucson, AZ, March 2016.