Thomas Coote

Thomas Coote is a Professor at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, serving as Director of the Berkshire Environmental Research Center and the Simon’s Rock Field Station in Montserrat. His academic affiliations include Science, Mathematics, and Computing; Environment and Sustainability Studies; and Tropical Studies in Montserrat. He holds a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Department of Environmental Conservation), an MSES from Bard College, and a BA from Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

Dr. Coote’s research focuses on landscape ecology, aquatic ecosystems, and molluscs, with notable projects on Caribbean snails and the endangered Massachusetts snail Marstonia lustrica. His teaching spans environmental studies, bioinformatics, limnology, and agroecology. He has received prestigious awards, including the Polgar Fellowship and Sea Grant Fellowship.

He leads the Tropical Ecology and Sustainability program in Montserrat and has over two decades of academic experience, including prior roles at Waynesburg University and California University of Pennsylvania. His work integrates political ecology and climate change, bridging scientific research with practical environmental management.

Dr. Coote’s research and outreach are anchored at the Berkshire Environmental Research Center, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. His career combines industry experience in fish farming with academic leadership, emphasizing applied ecological solutions.