Tara Jagadeesh is a Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Coastal Studies with ISTC, detailed at the Illinois Coastal Management Program (CMP) located in Chicago, IL. In this role, she provides support for the program's work on coastal hazards, community resiliency, coastal habitats, sustainable economic development, and coastal recreation.
Tara's interests lie in increasing the accessibility of both scientific knowledge and coastal resources to all communities. She's interested in innovative communication strategies that can better connect people to their environments, ultimately fostering a sense of stewardship. In her work, she also leads efforts to improve Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. She is driven by a desire to better serve the needs of coastal communities and uplift community-based policy and planning.