Through biological field stations and science policy, I work to better conserve and understand our planet’s biodiversity and natural environments
I am the Executive Director of the UC Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System (UCSB NRS), a network of research field stations across California’s ranging ecosystems. The UCSB NRS empowers the study and stewardship of natural systems by supporting education, research, and public service at our seven protected natural areas. The UCSB NRS’s field stations stretch from the Channel Islands to the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. The UCSB NRS serves over 8,000 users per year with over 5,000 publications and 500 student theses resulting from work done at our seven reserves.
I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting environmental research, education, and public understanding of science across the globe. I lead OBFS’s advocacy agenda as the Chair of the Outreach & Communications Committee. I am also an evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist interested in the evolution of animal societies and multilevel selection. I am a Research Scientist at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) and collaborator on the RMBL Marmot Project, the longest running continuous study of wild mammals in the world. I also serve on RMBL’s Research Committees and Animal Care Committees, supporting the field station's mission and long-term success. |