Nicole Wright

Extension Educator, Aquaculture & LEARN Coordinator, Ohio Sea Grant College Program

As Aquaculture Extension Educator, Nicole connects researchers, OSU Extension aquaculture specialists and industry professionals while assisting to build Sea Grant’s Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC). She also manages the daily needs of the Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network (LEARN), a regional research consortium of field stations and diverse researchers to address the grand challenges facing Lake Erie.

HERE IS HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

Email: wright.1128@osu.edu

As Ohio Sea Grant’s Aquaculture Extension Educator, Nicole is the program’s lead and contact for aquaculture efforts, fielding questions from clientele and coordinating with Ohio’s aquaculture industry, researchers, and OSU Extension aquaculture specialists to identify research, education, and outreach needs. She is also assisting to build Sea Grant’s Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC), an effort to organize the industry in the region so that expertise can be shared and applied to tackle the challenge of understanding the market and training a workforce to support industry growth.

As LEARN Coordinator, she manages the daily needs of the Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network (LEARN), a regional research consortium of field stations and diverse researchers working together to promote collaborative research, education and networking to address the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio’s freshwater resources.

Nicole has a background working in agriculture and natural resources, with extensive experience in agricultural production and local/regional food systems. She is focused on sustainable, stakeholder-informed, science-based solutions that build resilience in food, agricultural, and environmental systems.

Nicole earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Oberlin College and a master’s degree in plant health management from The Ohio State University. She previously worked as part of the Agriculture and Natural Resources team in the Greater Cleveland area for OSU Extension. Before joining Ohio Sea Grant in late 2020, Nicole served a dual role with research and extension responsibilities in two Ohio State research labs studying food and farming systems.

Yellow Perch Programs Help Raise Aquaculture Literacy in Ohio

Aquaculture literacy displays focused on the story of yellow perch were installed in two Ohio locations reaching 18,245 visitors in 2022.

Ohio Aquaculture Outreach and Education Reaches New Audiences

There is a demand for Ohio aquaculture and opportunity for the industry to expand. Ohio Sea Grant is supporting Ohio aquaculture via research, outreach and education and reached new audiences with nine events that delivered useful and applicable aquaculture information to 2,205 individuals in 2023.

Ohio Sea Grant Helps Bring Great Lakes Aquaculture to Washington, D.C. Event

An Ohio and a Wisconsin farmer “wow” a D.C. crowd with their fresh, delicious seafood and educate about Great Lakes aquaculture through coordination of Sea Grant’s Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative staff from Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois-Indiana, and Michigan.

Evaluating the Impact of the Great Lakes Fresh Fish Finder on Fish Producing Businesses

The Great Lakes FreshFishFinder.org is increasing visibility of aquaculture and commercial fishing businesses in the region and building relationships with industry.

Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network (LEARN) Creates Connection and Collaboration between Academics and Agencies

The Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network is fostering new connections across academic institutions and public agencies, leading to collaborations for research, training, and knowledge sharing.