Ross Coen is a first-year Ph.D. student in the History Department where he is studying fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean, in particular the intersections of environment, technology, and politics in how fisheries are utilized and managed. He intends to examine the diplomatic relationships between Canada, Japan, and the United States concerning salmon fishing in the extraterritorial waters of the North Pacific. Coen holds a Masters degree in Northern Studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he researched the history of oil and gas transportation systems in the Arctic. His 2012 book, Breaking Ice for Arctic Oil, examines the political and technological history of the SS Manhattan, an icebreaking tanker that transited the Northwest Passage in 1969 in order to test the viability of shipping Alaska North Slope crude oil via circumpolar marine routes, and the controversy regarding Canada’s territorial claims to Arctic waters. The research project was supported by the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies. Before coming to UW, Ross worked on climate change policy in the Washington, DC office of Senator Ted Stevens.
The Canadian Studies Center has a Professional Development Program for Graduate Students enabling any U.W. student from across campus to join the Center as an Affiliated Graduate Student. Affiliated Graduate Students are provided with mentorship and opportunities on cross-border studies.