OrganizationUniversity of Alaska Anchorage - Alaska Center for Conservation Science
Emailelarson15@alaska.edu
Phone907-7866392
AddressAlaska Center for Conservation Science; University of Alaska Anchorage; Beatrice McDonald Hall
Anchorage , Alaska 99508United StatesBioI am an avid aquatic ecologist whose research interests lie between basic and applied ecology. I am fascinated by the complex effects of ecological disturbance. Specifically, I am interested in how disturbance history shapes communities and which traits confer resilience in dynamic systems. I study these questions using both experimental and observational techniques along environmental gradients in montane regions around the globe.I am passionate about outreach and teaching and believe that sharing knowledge is as important as making new discoveries. I help co-host the podcast for the Society for Freshwater Science (https://freshwater-science.org/education-outreach/making-waves) and am a co-chair of its Public Information and Publicity Committee. As a graduate student at Cornell, I taught courses in medium and maximum security prisons through Cornell’s Prison Education Program. I strongly believe that everyone deserves the right to an education.
I am a Co-PI on the NSF-funded AK UNiTE Research Coordination Network in Undergraduate Biology Education. Our priority is to provide Alaskan undergraduate biology students with place-based opportunities to explore biology from a research perspective and gain insight and experience that does not result from traditional classroom learning, particularly students who have not previously had research experience.
At APU, I teach courses in ecology, field methods in environmental science, conservation biology, and environmental policy and assessment. I am excited about working together with students to untangle ecological puzzles.
When I’m not in the field, lab, classroom or office, I am a devoted trail runner, backcountry skier, and mountain biker.