Star Bottomley Email & Phone Number

My masters thesis topic is about how effective Russia's blockade of the Black Sea has been on impacting Ukraine's grain vessel insurance since the formation and dissolution of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (Grain Deal).It is not totally ironic to me that I would have a passion for all things relating to the seas or bodies of water, my name after all was and is a point of nautical navigation. I have always been drawn to topics of security but never have I been given an opportunity to explore maritime issues because it is simply not common, especially in the institutions I have attended. Coming from a small fishing town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, many of my memories are of the lessons I have learned on the Chesapeake Bay. I knew that I would find a field that would bring out the best of my abilities and hand me a sense of purpose. I love this work, and I love what it has taught me because an opportunity would not present itself to me if I was not ready or willing to fulfill it successfully.My current curiosities include geography, cybersecurity infrastructure in the U.S. and Europe, geopolitical mapping, military emissions, climate change, Russia's shadow fleet of the Black Sea, oceanic conservation, Chesapeake restoration.