Edward Grumbine

Edward Grumbine is a visiting senior international scientist at the Centre for Mountain Ecosystem Studies, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is an expert in environmental policy and conservation, particularly focused on China. His academic engagements span decades and include teaching and research roles across multiple institutions in the United States and China.

His educational background includes a PhD in environmental policy and management from the Union Institute (1991) and a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Montana (1982).

Grumbine's research centers on environmental policy, conservation biology, and sustainable development, with a strong regional focus on China and mountain ecosystems. He has published extensively on the intersection of nature, power, and governance in China, contributing to both academic and policy discourse. His work often explores the socio-political dimensions of conservation and the challenges of implementing sustainable practices in complex ecological and institutional contexts.

The trends in his publications reflect a deep engagement with political ecology, environmental governance in Asia, and the dynamics of conservation in mountainous regions. His seminal book, Where the Dragon Meets the Angry River, exemplifies this interdisciplinary and regionally grounded approach.

• Senior Lecturer, SIT China Programs (2013–present)
• Academic Reader, SIT China Programs (2015–present)
• Visiting Senior International Scientist, Kunming Institute of Botany (ongoing)
• Acting Chair, Environmental Studies MA Program, Prescott College (2009–2010)
• Director, Sierra Institute, UC Extension, Santa Cruz (1982–2003)

Grumbine has advised graduate students in China and contributed to academic programs such as IES Abroad in Kunming. While specific grant details are not mentioned, his sustained international research and teaching roles suggest active involvement in externally funded educational and research initiatives. He has taught environmental studies courses at Antioch College, The Evergreen State College, University of Montana, UC Santa Cruz, and Prescott College since the 1970s.

His primary research and professional activities are centered at the Centre for Mountain Ecosystem Studies, where he collaborates on conservation research and policy analysis, contributing to transboundary understanding of ecological challenges in mountain regions.