Inaugural E4 Distinguished Lecture: Ruth DeFries
Monday, Sept. 16, 2024
ABL 131
In pursuit of linking science with action: What is a university to do?
Ruth De Fries, Columbia University
In the current times when climate change and environmental problems are high on the agenda for both the public and policy-makers, science has never been more relevant to guide decisions. This lecture discusses the approach at the Columbia Climate School to generate knowledge and apply it in the real world to pressing problems related to climate change. The approach requires interdisciplinary collaborations across engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences to inform policy and develop workable solutions for society. A focus on linking knowledge with action in the realm of food systems and climate illustrates the potential.
Ruth DeFries is an environmental geographer, a professor of ecology and sustainable development, and the co-founding dean of the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University in New York. She uses images from satellites and field surveys to examine how the world’s demands for food and other resources are changing land use throughout the tropics. Her research aims to contribute to realistic pathways for people and nature to thrive. A particular geographic focus is central India, which is globally important for tiger conservation and a hotspot for climate impacts on vulnerable populations. DeFries was elected as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, received a MacArthur “genius” award, and is the recipient of many other honors for her scientific research. In addition to over 200 scientific papers, she is committed to communicating the nuances and complexities of sustainable development to popular audiences through her books “The Big Ratchet: How Humanity Thrives in the Face of Natural Crisis” and “What Would Nature Do?: A Guide for Our Uncertain Times”. DeFries is committed to linking science with policy, for example through her involvement with the Environmental Defense Fund, Science for Nature and People, and World Wildlife Fund. She founded and continues to direct the Network for Conserving Central India.
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