Faculty Member Publishes Article on Ecosystem Resilience and Climate Change in Galapagos

Regina Ostergaard-Klem, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Science and M.A. in Sustainability (MASUST) faculty member, recently co-authored an article titled "Evolution of the Galapagos in the Anthropocene" (article link). The paper results from an interdisciplinary workshop held at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, in October 2017. Ostergaard-Klem joined 21 other internationally recognized experts to develop a research agenda for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. 

The article is a direct application of topics and principles (e.g., ecological economics, ecosystem services, natural capital accounting) taught in her HPU classes. When asked how the conference experience and publication process resonate with her HPU work, she responded: "The dynamics within this group of authors reinforced how critical collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches are to address wicked problems like climate change. This collaboration serves as an example of the same skills we aim to provide our students."  

Contact professor Ostergaard-Klem (rostergaardklem@hpu.edu) to learn more about the article and her HPU courses, and Adam Burke, Ph.D., (aburke@hpu.edu) for info on HPU's M.A. in Sustainability program.

The photo was taken in October 2017 (Puerto Ayora, Galapagos)