Carol Barford

Carol Barford is the Director of the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, holding the academic rank of Researcher. She holds a BA in Biology from Boston University, an MS in Ecology from Boston University, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Harvard University. Her postdoctoral work at Harvard focused on atmospheric chemistry and forest carbon cycling.

Her research integrates agriculture, environmental quality, and climate change through studies of bioenergy systems, soil biogeochemistry, and infrastructure resilience. Key projects include assessing Wisconsin's bioenergy potential, analyzing greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure, and evaluating climate risks to internet infrastructure. She pioneered the iPlan decision-support platform for land-use impact modeling.

Barford's work bridges disciplinary divides through innovative methods like nitrogen isotope analysis and participatory modeling. She has authored influential studies on forest carbon balance (Science 2001) and co-developed the Great Rivers Modeling Framework. Her current efforts address socio-environmental problem-solving through localized solutions and climate adaptation strategies in food systems.