Professor; Director of Conservation Science, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
As both a professor in DNR and the Director of Conservation Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Amanda Rodewald works to generate, apply, and communicate science in ways that advance understanding of ecology and also support conservation. Her research seeks to understand how global change impacts ecosystems across multiple spatiotemporal scales and levels of biological organization and, as such, touches on a variety of sub-disciplines, including conservation biology, community ecology, landscape ecology, population demography, behavioral ecology, and ecological restoration. She tightly integrates her research and outreach efforts to inform policy and management, and as such, regularly interacts with government agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners. Among her national leadership activities she has served on the Science Advisory Board of US EPA.
Research Focus
Dr. Rodewald’s current research focuses on (1) population and community responses to changes in land use, climate, invasive species, and disturbance regimes, (2) socioecological dynamics and conservation in working landscapes, (3) eco-evolutionary dynamics in human-dominated and urbanizing systems, (4) sustainable management of temperate and tropical forests, (5) conservation planning and prioritization, and (6) innovative finance and market-based instruments to support conservation and alleviate poverty.
Outreach and Extension Focus
Conservation has been practiced for decades, yet biodiversity continues to be lost at alarming rates. Our record of conservation accomplishment lags, in part because the best science is not always applied to the problems we face. We must close the gap between science and decision-making if we are to effectively address global challenges and get the best return on our conservation investments. As an ecologist and conservation biologist, I advocate for the use of science in planning, policy, and decision-making processes, and I seek ways to engage the various players in productive discourse to promote a shared understanding of issues, problems, and solutions. My approach is to work collaboratively with decision-makers, communities of practitioners, the private sector, and the public with the goals of bringing science into the decision-making process, developing approaches that are sensitive to both social and environmental needs, and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.
Teaching Focus
Wildlife ecology and management, conservation biology, urban ecology.
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Awards and Honors
- Elected Fellow (2017) American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Fellow (2011) American Ornithologists' Union
- International Research Fellow (2017) Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, University of British Columbia
- Investigation Award (2013) Partners In Flight