Welcome to the Solutions for Ecosystem Action through Statistics (SeaStats) Lab at UNB Saint John!
Led by Dr. Suchinta Arif, Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Ecological Modelling, our lab is dedicated to understanding the causes and consequences of contemporary marine change, and how these changes affect both nature and people.
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We take a transdisciplinary approach, often combining ecological modelling with community-centered approaches to address these complex challenges. Our team welcomes students and researchers from a wide range of backgrounds, including marine ecology, statistics, computer science, social science, and more.
Research Themes
Our research is guided by three core themes—causal understanding, community engagement, and place-based inquiry—that together shape how we study, interpret, and respond to change in marine systems.
Causal Understanding
We apply contemporary causal methods to uncover the complex relationships in socio-ecological systems. We aim to better understand why ecological changes happen, under what context, and how we can respond. This research often drives practical solutions for marine management, for example, by uncovering why certain fisheries are recovering whereas others are not.
Community Engagement
Community engagement is at the heart of much of our research. We aim to co-create projects with a diverse range of knowledge holders, including youth, Indigenous communities, local fishermen, and environmental stewards. Through participatory workshops and modeling, we ensure our science reflects multiple worldviews and serves the people most affected by marine change.
Place-based Research
We carry out place-based research on the Bay of Fundy, one of Atlantic Canada’s most ecologically and culturally important marine systems. We focus on understanding how local marine resources are changing, how they are managed, and how to build a more just and sustainable future for both nature and the communities that remain reliant on the Bay.