Lorenzo Marini is a permanent Researcher at the University of Padova , focusing on ecological interactions between insects, agricultural systems, and natural environments. His work bridges biodiversity conservation with sustainable pest management across diverse ecosystems. Research Interests include pollinator conservation, invasive species dynamics, climate change impacts on insect populations, and landscape-scale agroecological solutions. His studies often integrate spatial modeling and ecological networks. Key Article Trends show a focus on pollinator dynamics (e.g., EuPPollNet database), pest risk assessments (e.g., HoPPI Project ), and climate-agriculture-biodiversity interplay. Recent publications emphasize reconciling human activities with ecological preservation. Contact: lorenzo.marini@unipd.it
Ayşe Filiz Sunar is a Professor in the Department of Geomatics Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Civil Engineering. She has a distinguished academic and research career in remote sensing, photogrammetry, and GIS applications in environmental and urban domains. Her work spans international collaborations with institutions in Italy, Finland, and the EU, and she has led numerous national and international projects. Her educational background includes a PhD in Geodesy and Photogrammetry Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. She has held academic positions at Politecnico di Milano, University of Padova, and University of Bristol, and has served as a project referee for EU Horizon programs. Her research interests include remote sensing , GIS for planning , photogrammetry , urban expansion monitoring , forest fire risk assessment , water quality analysis , and crop monitoring . She applies advanced techniques such as machine learning, image fusion, and sensor integration to solve environmental and urban challenges. The recent articles demonstrate a strong focus on environmental monitoring , especially in water quality (e.g., Gulf of Izmit), forest fire dynamics , agricultural assessment , and image processing . Her work increasingly integrates machine learning and multi-sensor data fusion (e.g., SAR and optical) for improved accuracy and insight. Best Poster Presentation Award ISPRS and URSI, 2018 The IIER Excellent Paper Award, 2018 She has advised numerous graduate students and researchers, often co-authoring with them on topics like urban change, land cover classification, and disaster management. She has been Principal Investigator on TÜBİTAK and EU-funded projects such as Gaining Additional Urban Space (GAUS) , ITACA , and Detecting is not enough: Fire Event Situation Awareness from Earth Observation (FirE-SAFE) . She is actively involved in editorial roles for ISPRS, ASPRS, and Springer publications, and has contributed to books and conference proceedings on remote sensing and GIS. She leads research integrating remote sensing with GIS for archaeological investigations, coastal monitoring, and urban planning.
Dr. Rufus Isaacs is a Professor & Extension Specialist at Michigan State University's Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. His research focuses on berry crops entomology and pollination ecology, with a primary emphasis on pest management of invasive species like Spotted Wing Drosophila and native pests such as blueberry stem gall wasp. He integrates pest control strategies into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and extends findings to agricultural industries through extension publications, demonstrations, and outreach. His work addresses climate change impacts on pollination, pesticide risks to pollinators, and sustainable farming practices. Key projects include optimizing blueberry pollination under extreme heat, evaluating wildflower habitats for pollinator support, and developing biological control methods for invasive pests. Dr. Isaacs collaborates with growers, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to translate research into actionable solutions. His lab manages a multidisciplinary team addressing pollination requirements, pest resistance, and export-ready pest control protocols for Michigan's berry and grape industries.
Dr Richard Harris is a Lecturer at Curtin University's School of Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS), within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, with a focus on invasive species ecology. His research emphasizes human-induced ecological impacts, including habitat fragmentation, mining effects, invasive species, and restoration ecology. Dr. Harris teaches multiple units, including Terrestrial Ecology, Habitat and Landform Mapping, and contributes to environmental research projects. His work bridges applied ecological research with land management practices, demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications and management-focused reports. Education: Ph.D. Zoology, University of Canterbury, New Zealand Research Interests: Human disturbance impacts on ecosystems (e.g., mining, invasive species, fire), restoration ecology, and biodiversity conservation. His work often involves field-based studies and collaboration with land managers. Teaching: Coordinates Environmental Unit Major programs and teaches topics like Global Environmental Challenges, Sustainable Development, and Environmental Research Projects. Highlights include student-led ecological fieldwork and lab activities. Grants & Awards: None explicitly listed in provided text. Supervision: Actively supervises honours students in applied ecology research. Labs/Teams: Engaged in collaborative projects with organizations like Landcare Research (NZ) and Curtin’s restoration ecology groups.
Dr. Darren J. Ranco serves as Professor of Anthropology at the University of Maine with joint appointments in the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and Native American Programs, where he chairs Native American Programs and coordinates Native American Research. A member of the Penobscot Nation, his academic work centers on indigenous resistance to environmental destruction through indigenous diplomacies and critiques of liberalism. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Anthropology from Harvard University (2000) MSEL in Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School (1998) B.A. in Anthropology and Classical Studies from Dartmouth College (1993) Ranco's research critically examines how colonial state knowledge systems perpetuate environmental risks for indigenous communities while exploring pathways for equitable university-community research partnerships. His teaching focuses on indigenous intellectual property rights, environmental justice, research ethics, and tribal governance, reflecting his commitment to decolonizing academic practices. He actively develops frameworks for integrating indigenous knowledge with Western science in sustainability contexts. His publication record (2006-2021) reveals an evolving scholarly trajectory from theoretical critiques of the 'Ecological Indian' stereotype toward applied collaborations with indigenous communities on climate change impacts, traditional food systems, and river ecosystem management. The work consistently centers Penobscot River homelands and tribal sovereignty issues, demonstrating increasing transdisciplinary engagement with environmental health, forest management, and youth education initiatives. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. Ranco leads significant collaborative projects including EPA-funded research on Wabanaki Traditional Cultural Lifeways Exposure Scenarios and the Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) program. His grant work emphasizes community-based environmental monitoring and culturally responsive risk assessment methodologies, often involving tribal co-researchers in designing solutions for climate adaptation and forest pest management. He directs institutional initiatives through the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and Native American Programs, focusing on decolonizing research ethics and creating equitable partnerships between universities and indigenous nations. Current efforts prioritize integrating traditional ecological knowledge into sustainability science frameworks and addressing environmental justice through tribal governance models.
Rachel V. Blakey is an ecologist at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Science. Her research focuses on how global change drivers like fire, urbanization, and agriculture influence vertebrate animal behavior, with particular emphasis on carnivores, bats, and urban wildlife. She collaborates with natural resource partners to develop practical conservation strategies that improve human-wildlife coexistence. Dr. Blakey's educational background includes: B.S. in Zoology and Earth Science B.S. (Honors I) from University of Queensland Ph.D. in Ecology from University of New South Wales Her research spans animal ecology, urban mountain lions, bat ecology, landscape ecology, fire ecology, movement ecology, and applied conservation. She investigates how wildlife responds to human disturbance, particularly studying mountain lions' behavioral changes in response to fire and urbanization, and bats' roles as ecosystem service providers in urban agroecosystems. Her work combines field studies with community science initiatives to develop practical conservation strategies that address contemporary environmental challenges. Her recent publications show a strong focus on fire ecology impacts on wildlife, urban wildlife behavior, and conservation strategies in the face of climate change. There's particular emphasis on mountain lions' risk-taking behaviors post-wildfire and bat community responses to environmental disturbances across multiple spatial scales. Her work bridges theoretical ecology with practical conservation applications, often incorporating community science approaches. Dr. Blakey has received several significant grants: Co-investigator, Agricultural Research Institute Integrated Pest Management Grant ($543,193, 2022) Co-PI with Dr. Eeman At-Taras and Janel Ortiz, Cal Poly Pomona SPICE Grant ($25,000, 2023) Cal Poly Pomona SPICE grant for campus bat boxes ($8,979, 2023) National Parks Foundation grant for "Wildfire resilience in urban carnivores" ($75,000, 2021) She mentors Masters students in the Biological Sciences program and leads the Cal Poly Pomona Fall Bat Week program. Dr. Blakey is also a co-organizer of LA Bat Roost Monitoring through the Natural History Museum of LA County, engaging community scientists in bat population monitoring. She is committed to science outreach, particularly providing opportunities for underserved communities to interact with the natural world through experiential learning and community science programs.
Jesse Bellemare is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College, where he conducts research in plant ecology, biogeography, and evolution. His work focuses on understanding how historical processes like past climate change and dispersal limitation influence contemporary plant species distributions and community diversity, with implications for species conservation in the face of modern climate change. Bellemare's research addresses fundamental questions in ecology regarding the ecological niche concept while exploring practical conservation approaches such as "managed relocation" or "assisted migration" for dispersal-limited plant species. His laboratory primarily works in the temperate deciduous forests of the eastern United States, studying forest herbs, shrubs, and tree species through a variety of methods including large-scale seed-sowing experiments, field surveys, and analysis of horticultural plantings. His research program encompasses several key areas: Investigating how plant species' distributions are influenced by climate, soils, ecological interactions, and dispersal limitation Using native plant horticulture as "accidental experiments" to explore species' tolerances beyond their native ranges Studying forest ecosystem changes at Smith College's Ada and Archibald MacLeish Field Station as Eastern Hemlock declines due to exotic insect pests Documenting cases of plant species naturalizing beyond their native ranges, such as Magnolia tripetala in western Massachusetts Bellemare's work has important implications for understanding species responses to climate change and developing conservation strategies for vulnerable plant species. His research combines theoretical frameworks with empirical data to address pressing questions in plant ecology and biogeography. His educational background includes: Ph.D. from Cornell University M.F.S. from Harvard University B.S. from University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hugh Bigsby is Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce at Lincoln University in New Zealand, a position he has held since 2013. His academic leadership spans interdisciplinary research connecting economics with natural resource management, particularly in forestry contexts where he has built a distinguished career bridging economic analysis with practical field applications. Hugh Bigsby's educational foundation includes: PhD from The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Master of Arts from University of Alberta, Canada Bachelor of Arts from University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada As an empirical resource economist, Professor Bigsby specializes in forest-related economic issues with over 25 years of experience in Small-Scale and Community Resource Management, particularly in tropical developing countries. His research spans multiple interconnected domains including the economics of biosecurity and quarantine risk assessment (working to integrate economic criteria into biological decision-making processes), forest carbon markets within New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme, and sustainable resource management through certification systems. He has collaborated extensively with international organizations including FAO, ASEAN, and the International Plant Protection Convention, demonstrating his ability to translate academic research into practical policy applications. Professor Bigsby has supervised numerous postgraduate students across diverse topics in community forestry, agroforestry adoption, and sustainable resource management in countries including Nepal, Zambia, Guatemala, and Kenya. His teaching career includes developing and coordinating the BCom (Forestry) degree at Lincoln University from 1994-2006, and creating a postgraduate diploma in sustainable tropical forest management delivered in Sarawak, Malaysia. He has extensive experience in distance education formats, including blended and online delivery systems for forestry business programs in New Zealand and collaborative degree programs with Yunnan Agricultural University, reflecting his commitment to innovative educational approaches.
Aladje Baldé serves as Assistant Professor and Dean at Jean Piaget University of Guinea-Bissau, where he leads academic and administrative operations. His career bridges molecular biology research and public health initiatives in West Africa, with affiliations extending to the Foundation of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and international collaborations through WANECOV and EuropeAid projects. His educational background includes a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Lisbon (2002), two postdoctoral specializations in Molecular Biology (2002-2005, 2008-2012), postgraduate training in Medical Microbiology (1997), and a License in Biology from Moldova State University (1992). PhD in Biotechnology, University of Lisbon (2002) Postdoc in Molecular Biology, University of Lisbon (2008-2012) Postdoc in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, University of Lisbon (2002-2005) Postgraduate in Medical Microbiology, Nova University Lisbon (1997) License in Biology, Moldova State University (1992) Baldé's research integrates molecular techniques with field applications across two primary domains: plant pathology (focusing on cashew diseases in Guinea-Bissau) and public health (addressing HIV resistance and adolescent behavior). His work combines DNA barcoding, metagenomics, and epidemiological surveys to develop sustainable agricultural practices and health interventions in resource-limited settings. Recent projects emphasize cashew gummosis pathogen identification and community-based Moringa water purification systems. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2020-2022) reveals a strategic pivot from pure molecular biology toward applied public health and agricultural solutions. Over 60% of recent work addresses cashew pathology and adolescent health in Guinea-Bissau, reflecting localized problem-solving through interdisciplinary methods. Key trends include fungal pathogen surveillance (Botryosphaeriaceae, Lasiodiplodia), HIV resistance mitigation in pregnant women, and sociological studies of digital technology access among adolescents. Baldé actively mentors through co-advising PhD candidates and leads multiple funded projects including HIPWAN2 (HIV resistance in West Africa), END-VOC (COVID-19 variants), and EuropeAid governance initiatives. His research network spans Portugal, Iceland, and Guinea-Bissau, with collaborations through the University of Lisbon and WANECOV consortium. He directs field operations for the Jean Piaget University of Guinea-Bissau's agricultural research unit, coordinating teams for cashew disease monitoring and Moringa-based water purification pilots in Bissau communities. His work integrates molecular labs in Lisbon with field stations across Guinea-Bissau's cashew-growing regions.
Brian Leung is an Associate Professor at McGill University with dual appointments in the Department of Biology and the Bieler School of Environment. He holds the prestigious UNESCO Chair for Dialogues on Sustainability and serves as Director of the McGill-STRI Neotropical Environment Option, a collaborative program between McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. His academic career spans over two decades of research on ecological modeling and invasive species management. PhD in Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada (1999) B.Sc (Honours) in Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (1993) Professor Leung's research program focuses on large-scale ecological predictions and environmental decision-making, with particular emphasis on biological invasions as a major driver of biodiversity change. His work bridges mathematical, statistical, and computational modeling with empirical data across terrestrial, aquatic, and marine biomes at regional, national, and global scales. He has pioneered approaches to integrate socio-economic and ecological phenomena in understanding invasion dynamics. His current research includes leading the Panama Research and Integrated Sustainability Model (PRISM), a multidisciplinary effort to develop sustainability science templates for the Global South. Analysis of his recent publication record reveals a strong trend toward addressing global challenges in biological invasions through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. His work spans ecological theory, economic analysis, policy implications, and practical management solutions. Key themes include quantifying invasion costs, developing predictive models for species spread, assessing global monitoring capabilities, and creating scenario-based management frameworks. His research increasingly emphasizes the socioeconomic dimensions of invasions alongside ecological impacts, reflecting the complex nature of sustainability challenges. Professor Leung actively supervises graduate students, with Morgane Henry currently pursuing doctoral research under his guidance. His research program has attracted significant funding to support fieldwork, modeling efforts, and international collaborations focused on understanding and managing biological invasions. As Director of the Neotropical Environment Option, Professor Leung oversees an important international research and training platform that connects McGill University with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. This program supports field research, student exchanges, and collaborative projects addressing sustainability challenges in tropical environments.
