معرفی
Dr. Elena Bennett is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Science at McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, based at the Macdonald-Stewart building. She leads the Social Ecological Workshop, conducting research on social-ecological systems and ecosystem services through fieldwork, modeling, and stakeholder partnerships to envision sustainable futures for multifunctional landscapes.
Her academic credentials include a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Oberlin College, an M.Sc. in Land Resources, and a Ph.D. in Limnology and Marine Sciences from the University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Bennett's research centers on managing ecosystem service interactions in working landscapes using systems ecology frameworks. She investigates how landscape connectivity affects multiple ecosystem services across future scenarios, emphasizing co-production of knowledge with stakeholders. Her work bridges sustainability science, scenario planning, and transformative experiments to identify 'bright spots' for achieving a desirable Anthropocene, with current focus on ResNet—a national network comparing ecosystem services across six Canadian landscapes.
Her scientific accolades include:
- Elected Fellow, The Royal Society of Canada (2023)
- Elected Fellow, Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (2023)
- Elected Member, US National Academy of Sciences (2022)
- Guggenheim Fellowship (2022)
- David Thomson Award for Graduate Supervision and Teaching (2022)
- Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher, Clarivate (2020)
- Ecological Society of America Innovations in Sustainability Science Award (2019)
- EWR Steacie Fellowship (2017-2019)
- Alice Johannsen Award (2016)
- McGill Catalyst Award (2015)
- Trottier Public Policy Fellowship with $80,000 funding (2013-2014)
- Carrie M. Derick Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision (2013)
- Global Young Academy membership (2013-2017)
- IAP Young Scientist representation at World Economic Forum (2012)
- Macdonald Campus Award for Teaching Excellence (2012)
- Leopold Leadership Fellow (2011)
As an award-winning mentor, she has received multiple honors for graduate supervision including the David Thomson Award (2022) and Carrie M. Derick Award (2013). Her grant leadership includes ResNet (NSERC Strategic Network with 100+ researchers) and the Montérégie Connection project, funded by an $80,000 Trottier Fellowship for policy engagement. She teaches ENVR 200: The Global Environment through McGill's Bieler School of Environment.
She directs the Social Ecological Workshop laboratory, which actively collaborates with stakeholders on social-ecological systems research and is currently accepting graduate students for work on multifunctional landscapes and sustainability transitions.
