As we look at the world around us, it can be easy to look around in fear. At times it feels as if the world is on fire, and in some regions, it is. Raging wildfires are devastating not only the western United States, but also countries all across the globe. Seasons are becoming hotter, the air is becoming harder to breathe, and fossil fuels are continuing to burn.

While the words “new normal” have recently become a part of our vocabulary, the changes in our climate are anything but. Humans are causing irreversible damage to our planet; damage that we’ll spend generations attempting to remedy. Amidst a global pandemic and rapidly changing climate, we find ourselves at the forefront of the fight for change.

Our planet is in need of change makers that will bravely lead us in the journey towards progress. The Institute on the Environment is proud to support leaders who will do just that. 

This year, we are thrilled to welcome 30 new members to our affiliate community, which now has more than 200 members. We welcome 12 Fellows, established in their careers having demonstrated excellence in one or more subject areas related to the environment and sustainability; 12 Associates, early-and mid-career researchers and instructors at the University of Minnesota who are building interdisciplinary careers; five Educators, who have a special interest in pedagogy and curriculum development; and one Visiting Scholar, guests to our community who we hope will find mutual benefit as they pursue environmental research and education. 

Please join us in welcoming the 2020-2021 IonE Affiliates.

 

IonE Associates

David Beard, College of Liberal Arts, UMN Duluth

Anna Cates, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Forrest Fleischman, Department of Forest Resources, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Peter Hawthorne, Institute on the Environment, Senior Scientist Natural Capital Project

Fayola Jacobs, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMN Twin Cities

Zhenong Jin, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Laurie Moberg, College of Liberal Arts, UMN Twin Cities

Deepak Ray, Institute on the Environment, Senior Scientist Global Landscapes Initiative

Tsutomi Shimotori, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, UMN Duluth

Corinne Teed, College of Liberal Arts, UMN Twin Cities

Adam Wilke, Water Resource Center, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Natasha Wright, Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, UMN Twin Cities

 

IonE Educators

Jessie Barnett Schimek, Center for Learning Innovation, UMN Rochester

Susan Craddock, College of Liberal Arts, UMN Twin Cities

Reba Luiken, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Matt Peterson, Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Sheila Williams Ridge, Institute of Child Development, College of Education and Human Development, UMN Twin Cities 

 

IonE Fellows

Mike Dockry, Department of Forest Resources, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Melinda Erickson, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Daniel Forbes, Department of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, Carlson School of Management, UMN Twin Cities

Jessica Gutknecht, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Brad Karkkainen, Law School, UMN Twin Cities

Uwe Korsthagen, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, College of Science and Engineering, UMN Twin Cities

Chris Lenhart, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Eric Lonsdorf, Institute on the Environment, Lead Scientist Natural Capital Project

Susan Maher, College of Liberal Arts, UMN Duluth

Ryuta Nakajima, School of Fine Arts, UMN Duluth

Patrick Nunnally, Water Resource Science Graduate Program, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Twin Cities

Dave Wilsey, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMN Twin Cities

 

IonE Visiting Scholars

Heather Tallis, Bridge Collaborative

 

Grace Abifarin is a Junior at the Carlson School of Management studying Marketing, Supply Chain and Operations Management, and Leadership.