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David Antonio Gill

Assistant Professor in the Division of Marine Science and Conservation
Marine Science and Conservation
Duke Univ Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516

Overview


David’s research centers on marine coupled human-natural systems, focusing predominantly on marine management and tropical coral reef systems. Overall, his research aims to provide evidence-based insights into how marine management and conservation can lead to equitable and sustainable outcomes. This work is by nature both interdisciplinary and collaborative, drawing on key theories and analytical approaches from disciplines such as economics, community ecology, and political science, and working alongside researchers and practitioners to co-develop salient research questions, approaches and dissemination pathways. His recent work includes global and regional assessments of the social and ecological impacts of marine conservation, justice and equity considerations in marine governance, and developing cost-effective approaches for monitoring socioecological systems in capacity-limited regions.

David holds an MSc and PhD from the Centre of Resource Management and Environmental Studies, University of the West Indies, Barbados. His post-graduate career included two years as a Luc Hoffmann Fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC; 2014-2016) and a David H. Smith Conservation fellowship (2016-2018) based at George Mason University and Conservation International.

Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor in the Division of Marine Science and Conservation · 2018 - Present Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment

Recent News Items


Published February 19, 2026
How to Ensure Ocean Projects Are Fair
Published March 4, 2024
Protecting Fish Doesn’t Have to Mean Neglecting People, Study Concludes
Published April 8, 2021
Check This Out! Swimming With Whale Sharks

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Recent Scholarly Works


Reimagining coral reef futures

Journal article Npj Ocean Sustainability · December 1, 2026 Coral reefs are vital social-ecological systems, but highly vulnerable to global change and local stressors. While conveying the urgency of existential threats is paramount, bleak outlooks can become self-reinforcing, limiting capacities to act. To counter ... Full text Cite

Distributional effects of marine conservation on coastal livelihoods in Eastern Indonesia.

Journal article Nature communications · May 2026 Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely adopted to conserve marine biodiversity, yet their distributional impacts on resource-dependent communities remain underexplored. This study investigates socioeconomic inequality linked to MPAs in eastern Indonesia ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Advancing Ocean Equity

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Nature Conservancy · 2025 - 2028

Nature-based Solutions Accessibility Index

ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by Walton Family Foundation · 2026 - 2027

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Education


University of West Indies (West Indies) · 2014 Ph.D.

External Links


Ocean Synthesis Lab