In our special column this month, we are pleased to host an interview with Dr. Curtis Bell, Director, Stable Seas who fights against piracy, IUU fishing and maritime trafficking in goods, areas which need more international cooperation among all stakeholders, as he highlights.
A Ph.D. in the social sciences with coursework in game theory was a good investment for Dr. Bell as this made him to understand how small changes in rules and structures can cause massive changes over time.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Curtis Bell: My path into the maritime sector was fairly circuitous. I began my career as a college professor specializing in violent extremist movements around the world. Over time I gravitated toward focusing on their activities in the maritime space, which are so often overlooked but critically important to their operations and finances.
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
C.B.: I am excited to work with governments, international organizations, and the private sector to find new strategies that will make the maritime space free from violence-supporting illicit activities.
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
C.B.: Ralph Waldo Emerson. His famous definition of success, which gives equal weight to earning “the respect of intelligent people” and “the affection of children,” nudges me to try harder in all parts of my life. It is a welcome reminder during this challenging global pandemic.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why ?
C.B.: I cannot name only one! I really appreciate people who make me curious, tell me I’m wrong, and force me to learn something new.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
C.B.: A Ph.D. in the social sciences with coursework in game theory shapes how I think about decisions, disagreements, organizations, and interactions every single day of my life. I appreciate that it has forced me to ask many questions and better understand how small changes in rules and structures can cause massive changes over time.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
C.B.: Do not lose sleep over decisions that are not yet yours to make. Focus on creating opportunities and table the big decisions until the ball is in your court.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
C.B .: International cooperation has always been critical for maritime security on the high seas, but contentious geopolitics could move us away from productive cooperation. I would like to see the maritime security community work harder to find opportunities for cooperation, even between rivals who may not always see eye-to-eye. This is why I’m drawn to issues like piracy, IUU fishing, and maritime trafficking in goods that fund violent insurgent and terrorist organizations.
The views presented are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
