Skip to main content

2026 Candidate Robert Newman

Robert “Bob” Newman (CV)
Professor
University of North Dakota

Candidate for: Member of the Governing Board

I have been an ecologist all my life. I just did not know that was a thing when I was growing up. My family moved a lot (Navy) when I was young. I encountered a variety of ecosystems, species, and climates, mostly east of the Mississippi, mostly near the seacoast, plus one year in Monterey, California. I tell you this because I consider a lifetime of observations, fascination with living beings, curiosity and sometimes alarm about what I was seeing surely counts for something! You maybe had similar experiences.

My formal training in ecology started in high school – I took an optional 2nd year of Biology. It included field studies of local streams and visits to Assateague, Chincoteague, and Wallop’s Island off the Virginia coast. BS in Zoology (’81) from Duke, where I had the wonderful opportunity to work for Henry Wilbur. That led me to a PhD (’87) in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Pennsylvania. My doctoral and postdoc research in Art Dunham’s lab took me to Big Bend National Park, TX.

Professional Positions:
Visiting Assistant Professor at Virgina Tech (’89 – ’92), RTG Coordinator at Kellogg Biological Station (’92 – ’95), then a tenure-track position at University of North Dakota, where I have been since.

Leadership:
Director of Graduate Studies in Biology (14 yrs); Chair of Biology (going into my 2nd year); Chair, University Senate (22-23); President, Council of College Faculties (26-27) for the ND University System; many! smaller roles. I just got a Service award for being the guy who can’t seem to say no.

Volunteer:
ESA – TEK Section leadership team, Communication/Engagement chair, Climate Adaptation treasurer, DEIJ Task Force and Diversity Committee member (2020 – 2026).
TWS – Climate Change Working Group chair, Native Peoples’ Working Group board member.
ND Chapter of TWS – President and board member (22-25).

What Interests, Experience or Skills Would You Bring to This Position?

My research has at its core the observation that the environment is dynamic, often unpredictable, and adaptive responses enhance long-term success. That is as true for individual scientists and professional organizations as it is for the species we study. My research focus has evolved from curiosity-driven science to more applied, interdisciplinary, put-our-science-to-work to solve problems associated with climate change and land use. It is a luxury to ignore the changes happening in the world, a luxury we cannot afford. Our study systems are not static, nor should our science or function as scientists. I have become more attentive to community needs, particularly those who are least buffered from impacts imposed by a wider society that has greater means for adaptation. I have devoted a lot of my time to working on problems of environmental (in)justice, specifically faced by Tribal Nations on the northern Great Plains. This includes promoting Indigenous scientists and supporting their work. I also support the climate adaptation work of state and federal natural resource agencies. All of this requires willingness to support team goals. Almost everything I do now is team-based, which requires intentional listening, cooperation, coordination, and communication. The same skills have been critical to all of my “service” roles.

How Would You Support ESA’s Mission?

I would help to build on the new Strategic Plan that emphasizes diversity and supports members in pursuit of science and application in problem-solving. Two things motivate everything I do. I want the world to be fair (a human value), and I want it to make sense. The first can be stated this way: solutions . Everyone includes everybody who shares this planet. The second is why we do science, and should be the foundation for policy and decision-making. I believe that as a professional scientific society, if we are not willing to participate in problem-solving at some level, that calls into question the relevance of what we do. Relevance is mandatory for public support for science, and for young scientists to see ESA as a community they want to be part of. Most importantly, nobody should be excluded from this work. We need a diverse membership, because people with different backgrounds and life experiences will collectively always see problems and solutions that no narrow demographic can. Just and equitable problem-solving requires a diverse team. Opportunities to participate in and benefit from ESA should also be equitable and inclusive. I am encouraged that the most recent Strategic Plan emphasizes diversity, equity and inclusion.