The Brunson Socio-Ecological Systems Lab

To address today’s environmental challenges, it’s important to understand not only the natural environment but also the people who affect those environments. We are social and ecological scientists who study human-nature connections and how they might be influenced to achieve environmental stewardship goals.

Working mainly in arid and semi-arid landscapes of the western U.S., we use tools and concepts from a variety of scientific disciplines including conservation psychology, geography, and plant ecology to focus on questions related to biological invasions, disturbances, and restoration of natural and human-dominated landscapes. We are also passionate about communication and engagement with the people we hope will use and benefit from our work.