Anna M. Davidson

Anna M. Davidson is a Senior Research Associate/Lecturer at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. She holds an MFA in visual art and a PhD in plant science from UC Davis. Her work bridges art and science, focusing on ecological memory, climate change, and biological systems. She teaches ecological art in Cornell's Environment and Sustainability Program and has taught at UC Davis, San Francisco Art Institute, and others.

Education:

• MFA, Art Studio, UC Davis, 2016
• PhD, Plant Sciences, UC Davis, 2014
• BA, Biology, Ripon College, 2006

Research Interests: Davidson investigates Arctic landscapes, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, ecological memory, and tree ecophysiology through interdisciplinary fieldwork. Her projects include the Ocean Memory Project, Lost City hydrothermal vent expeditions, and the Mohawk River Watershed art-science initiative. She explores how art can communicate scientific findings on environmental issues like climate change and deep-sea mining.

Awards:

• National Academies Keck Futures Initiative Award (2020/21)
• Margrit Mondavi Fellowship (2015)
• Freeman Gadberry Award (2015/16)

Teaching & Outreach: Courses include NTRES/ENVS 2600 and 3020. She innovates field-based teaching methods, such as the Mohawk River capstone course blending art, science, and community engagement. Her work often involves collaborative interdisciplinary residencies and public exhibitions.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Ocean Memory Project, Wrigley Marine Science Center, and Friday Harbor Laboratories. Her Carbohydrate Observatory initiative studies tree carbohydrate dynamics.