For over 20 years NCEAS has innovated new synthesis and data science methods in ecology, and has supported diverse teams of scientists in the production of groundbreaking research. Geoff will describe the historical development of synthesis science that led to the creation of NCEAS, and share the status of some current Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) projects.

Speaker: Geoff Willard

Geoff is Deputy Director of NCEAS and SNAPP. Through his career he has sought to change policy and practice in ways that improve the human relationship with ecosystems, and to cultivate public engagement in science and conservation. As Public Programs Manager at the California Academy of Sciences, he designed educational programs about evolutionary biology and directed a team of educators. He led redwood and salmon restoration projects with Conservation Corps North Bay, served as Treasurer of the Board for RE-volv, and was a Fellow with both EDF Climate Corps and the Coro Center for Civic Leadership. Geoff has a B.A in History from the University of Rochester and a MESM in Conservation Planning from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UCSB.