Francisco Laso

Francisco Laso is an Assistant Professor at Western Washington University (WWU). His research focuses on the interconnections between agriculture, wildlife, and conservation in the Galapagos Islands, with a specialization in participatory mapping and social-ecological systems analysis. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2021), where his dissertation explored farmer-inclusive conservation strategies.

Key projects include an NSF-funded study exploring cultural identity in the Galapagos through card-sorting methods, and an interdisciplinary agricultural monitoring initiative collaborating with farmers and scientists. At WWU, he leads the 'Mapping Access and Disability' project, using participatory methods to improve campus accessibility for disabled students. His work combines quantitative GIS techniques with qualitative ethnographic approaches.

Recent research emphasizes long-term ecological monitoring on Floreana Island, including biodiversity assessments pre/post invasive species eradication. He has published in journals like Remote Sensing and Drones, and presented at major conferences including the American Association of Geographers. His grants include the 2023 Diversity and Social Justice Grant.