Candidate for
Commissioner; San Mateo County Harbor District; 4 Year Term

Nicole David

Nicole David works for the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI - http://www.sfei.org) as an Environmental Scientist, studying stormwater management and pollution reduction measures for San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. SFEI is a non-profit organization that provides science needed to support policies for the management of the Bay and other aquatic ecosystems. SFEI's goal is to enhance water and habitat quality and to protect the coastal and aquatic environment.

In 2004 Nicole was elected to the Board of Directors of the Northern California Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and served this non-profit organization for four years. For one year Nicole served as president of the Board.

Before joining SFEI in 1998, Nicole lived mostly in Berlin, Germany, where she grew up. But her research of coastal ecosystems took her from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and to the Baltic Sea, where she studied human impacts of urban areas on the marine and estuarine environment.

Nicole also followed her passion for the ocean through working as a research diver for different universities and various projects, including underwater archaeology and the discovery of historic remains of Viking settlements along the Danish coast, and coastal protection through the construction of artificial reefs in Italy and Germany. Nicole is also a certified PADI scuba instructor and her favorite class is teaching the Underwater Naturalist.

As an avid open water swimmer, Nicole is involved and committed to making waves to fight cancer, and is part of a team that organizes a fundraiser for two local hospitals that lead the way in pediatric cancer research and prevention. This swim through San Francisco Bay has raised almost $2 million for UCSF and Oakland Children's Hospital.

Nicole also swims to raise money for local food banks and has together with her team provided funds for close to 3,000 meals every year to Second Harvest in Half Moon Bay. She also dedicates her time to Home Rehabilitation Days when people come together to help senior citizens with home and garden repair and improvement projects.

Nicole is an advocate for outreach and education, and is committed to raising awareness on climate change and adaptation to sea level rise. She has organized a seminar with informative presentations and expert panel discussion and is looking forward to more opportunities to communicate important information to the public because she strongly believes that responding to challenges like this involves all of us.

Nicole is married to Jay Davis who is also a scientist. Together they live in Half Moon Bay with their 16-year old dog Kaya and frequent visits from their two sons.