Scientists continue to provide compelling evidence that environmental degradation and consequent global climate change are profoundly dangerous to humans and to other life on earth (Gallup Poll, 2009). Despite global awareness of environmental issues, actions promoting environmental sustainability have steadily declined over the past decades, particularly for adolescents and young adults (Twenge, Campbell, & Freemen, … Continued
Dr. Christina Wesolek currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Captive Wildlife Care in the Hybrid Learning Program at Unity College. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, a Master of Arts degree in Psychology (Behavioral Science & Bioacoustics) from the University … Continued
Founder of the Social Ecology Lab at Stanford University, Professor Ardoin is an interdisciplinary social scientist who researches individual and collective environmental behavior as influenced by environmental learning and motivated by place-based connections. Professor Ardoin and members of her lab often work in collaboration with community partners, including public, private, and social sector organizations at … Continued
Dr. Monroe is an Extension specialist in environmental education and professor in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In addition to providing support for 4-H, her courses orient students to conservation behavior theories and environmental education program development. She works in the human dimensions of natural … Continued
Dr. Vining is a semi-retired professor and consulting research psychologist. She is interested in applying psychological theories, principles, and methods to understanding and managing human/environment interactions. Topical interests include the role of emotion in environment perception and decision-making, distinctions between natural and unnatural environments (which are usually defined as human-influenced), conservation behavior, interactions among humans … Continued
Lily Maynard, Ph.D., is the Director of Global Conservation at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Spending years in zoos, including working as a conservation manager at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, instilled her passion for wildlife. Lily received her B.A. in Biology from Smith College and completed her master’s and doctorate in the Human Dimensions of … Continued
Prof. Dr. Peter Schmuck is a social science-oriented action researcher and sustainability scientist. In interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams, he has been involved in major transformation projects since 1998, particularly in the field of decentralized and participatory energy transition.His practical projects include converting the energy supply in 200 communities in Germany (www.energiewendedörfer.de). As a scientifically working … Continued
Dr. Sarah Thomas has 20 years of experience working in zoos in the UK and New Zealand. Before relocating to New Zealand in mid-2019, her previous roles included Head of Discovery and Learning at the Zoological Society of London (2011-2019), and the Education, Conservation and Research Manager at Blackpool Zoo (2002-2011) My current role is … Continued
Niki Harré is a professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland. Her recent research projects have focused on sustainable communities and schools, core human values, positive youth development and political activism. In 2007 Niki edited, with Quentin Atkinson, the book Carbon Neutral by 2020: How New Zealanders Can Tackle Climate Change. … Continued
Rachelle Gould is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work involves social science, the humanities, and ecology. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Vermont. Her research explores the relationship between people and ecosystems and focuses on: (1) environmental values, including Cultural Ecosystem Services and relational values; (2) lifelong and life-wide environmental learning and its … Continued
Dr. Beth Karlin is the founder and CEO of See Change Institute, a research (and practice) institute devoted to studying and shaping behavior change programs for the greater good. Beth and her team deliver actionable research to support organizations in the fields of health, environment, social justice, and philanthropy. They are currently working on projects … Continued