Leslie Paul Thiele

Leslie Paul Thiele is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He serves as Director of Sustainability Studies and the Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics and Science (UF CAIRES), leading its Active Learning Program. His research bridges political theory, sustainability, emerging technologies, and natural sciences, focusing on citizenship responsibilities and leadership in rapid global change.

Thiele earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1989. His interdisciplinary work spans books on sustainability, environmental policy, and political thought. Recent publications include Human Agency, Artificial Intelligence, and the Attention Economy (2025) and the 3rd edition of Sustainability (2024). He teaches undergraduate courses on sustainability and technology-politics intersections.

Thiele’s academic leadership includes directing sustainability programs and advising initiatives in experiential education. His research emphasizes coevolutionary frameworks for integrating human livelihoods with ecological systems, addressing climate change and technological ethics. He is developing principles inspired by nature to guide organizational practices, tentatively titled NATURE'S COMPASS.