David M. Lodge

David M. Lodge is a Professor at Cornell University, serving as the first Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Atkinson Center for Sustainability. His academic home is in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with joint appointments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. Lodge leads research on biological invasions, freshwater ecosystems, and environmental policy, focusing on invasive species, climate change, and sustainable resource management.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Oxford (1982)
• B.S., The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee (1982)

Research Interests: Lodge’s work bridges ecology and policy, addressing global challenges like invasive species (e.g., Asian carp, zebra mussels), environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance, and freshwater biodiversity conservation. He emphasizes ecological forecasting for risk assessment and policy development, collaborating with economists, NGOs (e.g., The Nature Conservancy), and international bodies like NOAA and the United Nations.

Key Contributions: Developed the University of Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI), advised U.S. Congress and federal agencies, and pioneered eDNA techniques for invasive species detection. Current projects include invasive species prevention in the Great Lakes and interdisciplinary studies linking ecology with human perceptions.

Grants & Collaborations: Funded by NSF, EPA, NOAA Sea Grant, USDA, and the U.S. Department of Education. Collaborates globally, including fieldwork in Michigan, North Carolina, Denmark, and Kenya. His Lodge Lab focuses on eDNA technology, ecological forecasting, and invasive species management.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Lodge Lab at Cornell and previously led ND-ECI. Engages in cross-disciplinary teams (e.g., ecologists, economists, philosophers) to address complex environmental-human nexus issues.