Donna Gerardi Riordan

I moved to Orcas Island, Washington four years ago with no thoughts of starting a new research organization. However, in early 2012, I learned about plans to build the largest coal transport facility in North America – the Gateway Pacific Terminal – at Cherry Point, Washington, a short distance across Georgia Strait from Orcas, my new home. A review of the massive (and historic) scoping record for GPT revealed a lack of specific information needed to answer important scientific questions. So, building on 25 years of experience in science and technology policy and communications in the other Washington (DC) and in California, I founded Research Now with the goal of crowd funding location-specific research to inform policymakers. When I'm not talking about Research Now with anyone who will listen, I can be found with my very tolerant husband and son on beautiful Orcas Island.

June 2014