Kathryn J. Besio

Kathryn J. Besio is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. She also serves as Liberal Studies Coordinator, Gender & Women’s Studies Department member, and affiliate of Pacific Islands Studies and the Social Sciences Division. Her work intersects with Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES). She holds a primary appointment in Geography while contributing to interdisciplinary programs.

Her research focuses on feminist geographies, qualitative research methodologies, and ethical frameworks in fieldwork. Central to her work are investigations into home gardens, local food systems, and gendered environmental dynamics. She explores these themes through courses like "Geography and Contemporary Society," "Food and Societies," and "Literature of the Environment: Climate Change Fiction."

No specific scientific awards or funded grants are listed in the directory entry. She teaches undergraduate courses emphasizing qualitative methods and environmental humanities, reflecting her commitment to both academic research and pedagogy.