Curtis J. Richardson

Curtis J. Richardson is a Research Professor of Resource Ecology and founding Director of the Duke University Wetland Center at the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. His work focuses on applied ecology, particularly wetland restoration, ecosystem responses to environmental stressors, and carbon sequestration. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee (1972) and a B.S. from SUNY Cortland (1966).

Research interests include phosphorus dynamics in wetlands, nanomaterial impacts, climate change effects, and ecosystem restoration metrics. He oversees the Nicholas School’s analytical lab and has pioneered studies on peatland carbon farming and GHG flux measurement. His grants include projects on peatland carbon sequestration and Indonesian peat restoration.

Dr. Richardson’s awards include Fellowships from AAAS, the Society of Wetland Scientists, and the Soil Science Society of America. He served as Society of Wetland Scientists President (1987-1988) and has been listed in Who’s Who in Science since 1989. His lab at Duke Forest integrates teaching and research on wetland and stream ecosystems.

Key projects involve quantifying carbon storage in coastal peatlands, assessing nanoparticle effects on wetland biogeochemistry, and developing metrics for wetland restoration success. His work bridges ecological principles with practical environmental problem-solving, emphasizing predictive models for ecosystem management.

Grants and collaborations span institutions like the National Science Foundation and Packard Foundation, funding studies on peat decomposition, GHG emissions, and water quality. His research underscores the interplay between hydrology, vegetation, and microbial processes in sustaining ecosystem functions.