George Kling

George W. Kling is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. He earned a B.A. in Biology from the University of Colorado (1982) and a Ph.D. in Zoology from Duke University (1988), followed by postdoctoral work at the Ecosystems Center in Woods Hole, MA. Since 1991, he has focused on aquatic ecology and biogeochemistry, particularly carbon and nutrient cycling, stable isotopes in food webs, and microbial diversity in arctic and tropical lake systems.

• Education:
  • University of Colorado, B.A. in Biology (1982)
  • Duke University, Ph.D. in Zoology (1988)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA

His research spans arctic lakes/streams and African tropical lakes, with a focus on landscape-level integration, microbial processes, and climate change impacts. He has authored 300+ popular science articles and media appearances, and co-produced field research protocols for NSF-funded projects.

Key scientific awards include:

• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• NSF Presidential Faculty Fellowship
• National Academy of Sciences Young Investigator Award
• United Nations Sasakawa Certificate for Disaster Reduction
• Cameroon Presidential Medal for Environmental Hazard Reduction
• ASLO John Martin Award & Ruth Patrick Award

His work has been supported by multiple NSF grants (e.g., DEB 1754835, PLR 1504006) and NASA funding, with a strong emphasis on public outreach and policy engagement regarding climate change.