Professional Experience
Education
Current Affiliations
Wislow Research Fisheries Experience (2018-present)
North Pacific Fisheries Experience (Pre-2018)
Fisheries Experience in Other Regions (Pre-2018)
Other Alaska Research Experience (Pre-2018)

Dr. Mike Downs founded Wislow Research Associates as a sole member limited liability company (LLC) in 2018 to provide applied social science research services related to natural resource management decision-making, something he had been doing as an employee of other firms since 1981. He has gained experience over that time as a senior social scientist and project manager on complex environmental projects throughout the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.

Mike is well-versed in the preparation of environmental documents in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as a range of social science technical studies. In addition to many years of experience in projects ranging from small-scale actions to multiyear, multimillion dollar projects, Dr. Downs has recruited and managed research teams, conducted field research and data analysis, and authored numerous technical papers related to socioeconomics, social impact assessment, community impact assessment, environmental justice, subsistence, and traditional use.

Dr. Downs has managed socioeconomic studies for public agencies and private entities related to a variety of natural resource management issues including fisheries, forestry, and offshore energy development; other energy-related projects including power plant siting, renewable energy project studies, pipeline studies, and high-level nuclear waste related work; a range of transportation and infrastructure projects; and projects involving assessments of traditional associations between people and resources including work in national parks and with Native American tribal entities, among other types of work. He has specialized expertise in ethnographic research and social impact assessment methodologies.

Non-fisheries experience is available upon request, please use the contact page here.