Passing the Torch with the Federation’s Chief Scientists
Dr. Diane Pataki
Chief Scientist and Vice President for Science
Dr. Bruce Stein
Chief Scientist Emeritus
After nearly five decades in the conservation field — including 16 years with the Federation — Dr. Bruce Stein is retiring as the National Wildlife Federation’s Chief Scientist. Bruce’s research, teaching, and advocacy on the impact of climate change on wildlife have transformed the field and helped slow the world’s biodiversity crisis. We couldn’t be more grateful for his service and dedication over this illustrious career.
Join us for Bruce’s last All Access episode where we will not only hear highlights from his impressive career, but we’ll also be introduced to the Federation’s new Chief Scientist Dr. Diane Pataki, a pioneer in the area of urban ecology and climate adaptation.
Sit in on this candid conversation as one of the Federation’s Chief Scientist passes the torch to the next. Their expertise and passion are sure to set the tone for a fantastic new season.
Recorded September 18, 2024.
Our Experts
ABOUT DIANE
Dr. Diane Pataki recently joined the Federation as our next Chief Scientist. Diane will oversee the Federation’s national conservation science team, provide scientific leadership and coordination across the organization, and help ensure the organization stays abreast of new scientific findings.
Pataki brings over three decades of scientific experience to the role, having led programs at several universities that have produced over 150 publications. She currently serves as sustainability professor at Arizona State University and will remain a faculty member while working for the Federation. She also founded the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, a public-private collaboration focused on climate resilience in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Among her many accolades, Pataki is a Fulbright Global Scholar, an elected fellow of three scientific societies, and has served on federal advisory committees for the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation. She holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in ecology from Duke University.
ABOUT BRUCE
After nearly five decades in the conservation field, Dr. Bruce Stein retired in 2024 from his role as Chief Scientist with the Federation. A biologist with expertise in biodiversity, conservation, and climate change, Bruce is a well-regarded leader in the field of climate change adaptation. Bruce has served as a scientific advisor to various government agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Department of Defense, and was honored with a climate adaptation career achievement award at the 2022 National Adaptation Forum.
Among his publications is the award-winning book Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States (Oxford University Press). Bruce received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz and his Ph.D. from Washington University, St. Louis and the Missouri Botanical Garden, where he focused on plant exploration in the tropical Andes and Amazon of South 皇冠体育app官网平台. Bruce enjoys scuba diving, skiing, sea kayaking, and “botanizing.”
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