Who I am
I am Dr. Nina Bednaršek, a marine biologist specializing in biological risk assessment for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), with a particular focus on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE). My work evaluates how proposed mCDR approaches interact with marine organisms and ecosystems, and what biological constraints, risks, and limits must be considered before deployment or scaling.
My expertise is grounded in more than 15 years of experimental and field-based research on ocean acidification, multiple climate stressors, and organismal sensitivity, which provides the essential baseline for understanding how mCDR interventions operate in real ocean conditions.
Through Bednarsek Carbon Solutions Biology Lab LLC, I work with companies, research consortia, NGOs, and public-sector partners to generate independent, decision-relevant biological evidence for mCDR research, pilots, and governance processes.
What I Do
- Assess biological risks and thresholds associated with mCDR and OAE
- Design and lead biological experiments relevant to mCDR exposure scenarios
- Evaluate direct, sublethal, and indirect ecosystem effects
- Translate biological results into risk frameworks usable by decision-makers
Core expertise
- Biological risk assessment and thresholds
- Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR)
- Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE)
- Experimental ecology and organismal responses
- Climate change stressors, thresholds vs baseline context
- Science–policy and governance support