Water – Ecologist Goes to Washington

Asian Carp Two Ways: The Politics and Science of Ecological Risks

terence — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:03:43 +0000

ESA Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winner Patrick Shirey started his PhD in biology at the University of Notre Dame after earning his law degree and MS in wildlife science. Here, he discusses Asian carp research at Notre Dame, the politics of invasive species control, and how a background in law has informed his research in endangered species.

For more discussion, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, Ecotone.

This is the first in a series of three episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Tradeoffs in Urban Ecology: A Local Take on Global Change

terence — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:01:55 +0000

Cities are working to limit and respond to the impacts of climate change, but each urban ecosystem is unique. Greening projects and other climate-related initiatives almost always require stakeholders to prioritize one ecosystem service over another; the success of these initiatives depends both on how well they correspond to local priorities and how well they reflect local ecology. Dr. Diane Pataki, who has worked with policymakers in both Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, discusses the role of urban ecology in local decision-making and the challenges unique to working in human-dominated landscapes.