Kelly Biedenweg

Kelly Biedenweg is an interdisciplinary social scientist and Associate Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences. She leads the Human Wellbeing and Conservation Lab, which examines linkages between social and ecological systems using theories from psychology, anthropology, sociology, geography, and political science.

Her research explores three primary domains: 1) Conservation psychology and human decision-making processes in natural resource contexts, 2) Development of human wellbeing indicators for environmental policy, and 3) Integration of traditional ecological knowledge with western science for species conservation. Her fieldwork spans the Pacific Northwest and Latin America, with significant projects in Puget Sound and Chilean Patagonia.

Dr. Biedenweg's publication record demonstrates consistent focus on social dimensions of conservation, with recent work examining trust dynamics in governance systems, place attachment in coastal communities, and stakeholder engagement in fisheries management. Methodologically, her research employs mixed-method approaches including cognitive mapping, social network analysis, and participatory GIS.

Honors include a Fulbright Scholarship (2022-2023) supporting her development of human wellbeing indicators for Chilean protected areas. She actively mentors graduate students through research assistantships and co-authors publications, with her lab currently advising students through 2026. Current initiatives include a graduate student lunch series on People and Nature and international collaboration on protected area management.