Esther’s research focuses on how uncertainty and information shape decision-making and cooperation in the management of natural resources, particularly fisheries. Esther studies how individuals, communities, and institutions respond to different types of uncertainty, including social uncertainty about the behavior of others, strategic uncertainty about optimal actions, and ecological uncertainty about resource dynamics. Using experimental methods, survey data, and policy analysis, Esther examines how behavioral factors such as trust, risk aversion, framing, and anchoring influence both cooperative behavior and expert judgment. This work also explores how scientific information is incorporated into formal governance systems and how institutional design affects the ability of policies to respond to changing environmental conditions.