Matt Chew

Matt Chew is an Associate Faculty member at the Center for Biology and Society and Senior Global Futures Scientist at Arizona State University (ASU). He holds a PhD in Biology (Biology and Society) from ASU (2006), an MS in Range Science (Ecology) from Colorado State University (1991), and a BS in Environmental Interpretation (1990). His research critiques ecological reliance on societal metaphors, particularly regarding 'nativeness' in conservation. Chew has been awarded an Oxford research fellowship (2014–15) and has published widely in Nature, Science, and niche journals, with over 2200 citations. His work bridges ecology, history, and art, including collaborations like a 2023 Seoul Biennale presentation with artist Chan Sook Choi. He advises postgraduate students in Biology and Society and teaches courses like 'Novel Ecosystems.' His research group is the Center for Biology and Society.

Education emphasizes interdisciplinary training, blending biology, history, and philosophy. Research interests include metaphors in ecology, anekeitaxonomy (categories of nativeness), and ecological rhetoric. Key awards include the 2014 Huntington Fellowship. Scientific contributions span invasion biology historiography, policy critiques, and interdisciplinary outreach. He volunteers at Phoenix Fan Fusion’s Science Panel and rescues dogs with his wife, plant ecologist Julie Stromberg.