Western Speaker Series

The Western Speaker Series connects conservation professionals and Yale students to explore and discuss a range of issues facing land stewardship in the American West. The Symposium Coordinators worked with UHPSI staff to plan presentations, career chats, and technical training by western conservation professionals that provide our students with valuable knowledge and insight. The 2019-2020 Western Speaker Series included topics such as organic dryland farming, wildland fires and fire ecology, climate impacts and ecological resilience, conservation within socio-ecological systems, and Indigenous land management. Previous years have featured speakers discussing the state and future of the Colorado River Watershed, human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, conservation of Indigenous lands, conflict resolution, and public/private land management partnerships.

Events 2019-2020

Student Researchers

Abbey Warner, Research Assistant |Abbey Warner is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Her current studies and prior work experience in the nonprofit and agricultural sectors center around natural resource and land management to promote the multiple benefits of water provision, climate mitigation and adaptation, ecosystem health, and equitable development within communities. At UHPSI, Abbey assists in coordinating the Western Speakers Series in order to connect students, staff, and faculty to scientists and practitioners working on environmental topics in the West. Abbey holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley.  See what Abbey has been up to.  |   Blog

Elizabeth Himschoot, Research Assistant | Born and raised in small remote community in Alaska, Elizabeth has always had a strong connection to nature and an understanding of human influence on the environment. As a Master of Environmental Management candidate, she is focused on learning interdisciplinary land management strategies with an emphasis on biodiversity conservation. She hopes to return to the West to continue exploring the human and nature connection through multiple ways of knowing. As a UHPSI Speaker Coordinator Elizabeth is bringing innovative speakers to the F&ES community to share their experiences and perspectives on western environmental issues. See what Elizabeth has been up to.  |   Blog