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News : Interviews / Q&As

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February 17, 2021

Haaland DOI Nomination Provides Opportunities to Advance Environmental Justice

Gerald Torres, professor of Environmental Justice at the Yale School of the Environment, weighs in on the nomination of New Mexico Representative Deb Haaland to be the next Department of the Interior Secretary.

January 27, 2021

A New Foundation for U.S. Forest Policy

Rich Guldin, recipient of the Society of American Foresters’ prestigious Sir William Schlich Award, is eager to talk about how forest research can inform smart forest policy.

January 12, 2021

Creating ‘Public Will’ for Climate Action

Anthony Leiserowitz, the 2020 winner of Climate One’s Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Change Communication, weighs in on the ever-growing field of climate change communication and how the Biden administration has a “pathway” to achieve meaningful climate action.

September 10, 2020

A Furious Sky: How Hurricanes Have Shaped American History

In his latest book, “A Furious Sky,” author Eric Jay Dolin ’88 MEM examines how hurricanes have helped to shape American history — and what the nation likely faces in the future.

Paradise Lost or Found?

For his new book, “Billionaire Wilderness,” Professor Justin Farrell spent five years in Teton County, Wyoming — the richest county in the U.S. and the one with the greatest income inequality. In an interview, he talks about what he learned about wealth concentration and environmental conservation in this corner of the rapidly changing American West.

Supporting Research in the Tropics During the COVID Era

Each year the Tropical Resources Institute sends students across the world to conduct research in the world’s tropical regions. This year, of course, is not like most years.

Firefighters Battling Wildfires in U.S. West Face a New Threat this Year: COVID-19

Wildland firefighters who already face many risks during a typical season are confronted by a new threat this year: COVID-19. In an interview, Yale student James Puerini, who spent five years as a wildland firefighter, discusses why these firefighters are vulnerable to the virus and how government can better protect crews by providing healthcare assurances.

Feasting Wild: Alum’s Debut Book Searches for the ‘Last Untamed Food’

In her debut book, “Feasting Wild: In Search of the Last Untamed Food,” Gina Rae La Cerva ’15 M.E.Sc. chronicles our relationship to “wild foods” by tracing the shift in America from foraging and hunting to wild foods becoming expensive luxuries.

What Does Sustainability Look Like? New Global Scorecard Will Offer a Glimpse

On June 4, the 2020 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) will issue its 12th biennial ranking of 180 countries on how they are performing in terms of environmental health and ecosystem vitality. In an interview, Dan Esty discusses how over the past two decades the EPI has offered a roadmap for sustainability policy.

‘This is Not a Normal Year’: Finding
A Job in Difficult Economic Times

With nearly every sector worldwide affected by the COVID-19 crisis, Kevin Doyle offers advice for students looking to enter the job market at a difficult time and shares advice from alumni who launched their careers a decade ago during another time of economic crisis.

Will Politicization of COVID-19 Crisis Erode National Consensus On Response?

A new survey on public perceptions of the COVID-19 crisis found a national consensus that protecting public health should come ahead of opening the economy. But that dynamic could change quickly as the issue — like climate change — becomes increasingly politicized, Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications, says in an interview.

As ‘Ultra Wealthy’ Seek Shelter in Quiet Western Town, Deeper Tensions Laid Bare

In his new book, “Billionaire Wilderness,” Justin Farrell explores a growing tension in Teton County, Wyoming, as the ultra-wealthy buy up huge swaths of land. These tensions have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis, he writes this week in The New York Times.

New Values: Online Yale Summit to Explore Shift in Corporate Sustainability

On Wednesday, the CEOs of seven leading organizations will join the online Yale Business Sustainability Summit to discuss the role of corporations in achieving a more sustainable future. In advance of the event, we talked with Daniel Esty, professor of environmental law and policy at Yale and co-organizer of the event, about how the role of business has changed over the past five decades.

EPA Rollback of Mercury Rule Relies on Flawed Analysis, Yale Economist Asserts

An attempt by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back federal limits on mercury emissions ignores important public health benefits, an economist at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies writes in a new paper. And it could set a dangerous precedent.

The Benefits and Tradeoffs of Social Distancing

For more than a decade Eli Fenichel has studied the benefits and challenges of using social distancing in the face of an epidemic. In an interview, he discusses what that research revealed, how it is applicable to the current global crisis, and how the COVID-19 threat might strengthen future research and response to other global threats.

The Complex Implications of COVID-19 on Global Energy Markets, Consumer Behaviors

January 9, 2020

A Decent Living, A Livable Planet

Narasimha Rao has spent much of his career showing that poverty in the developing world can be eradicated without making climate change worse. Now he wants those insights to be translated into real policy.

November 7, 2019

Yale Conservationist Honored for Strides
In Human-Centered Wildlife Protection

Over several years in Rwanda, Bill Weber developed a conservation strategy that has strengthened mountain gorilla populations by putting local people at the center of the effort. Weber, who has applied these principles in regions worldwide, was recently nominated for the prestigious Indianapolis Prize.

October 7, 2019

A Native Alaskan Campaigns to
Protect Bristol Bay, and A Way of Life

Verner Wilson's family has fished the waters of Bristol Bay, in southwestern Alaska, for thousands of years. Now the F&ES alum is working to protect the bay from what he calls the greatest threat it has ever faced: the proposed Pebble Mine.

Keeping It in the Family

Existing laws pertaining to land ownership often leave American families vulnerable to property loss, depriving future generations of their rightful inheritance. Tes Myrie ’19 M.F. is trying to change that.

Parting Thoughts from an F&ES Favorite

For more than a decade, Joanne DeBernardo has been the first face students see when they walk into Kroon Hall. On the cusp of retirement, the outgoing assistant dean of student services discusses her impactful career and shared some advice for the F&ES community.

January 8, 2019

Yale Economist on Flaws, Big and Small,
In Trump’s Fuel Economy Rollback Plan

In an interview, Kenneth Gillingham, a Yale economist and co-author of a new Science paper on the Trump administration's proposed fuel economy rollbacks, describes some of the flaws with the plan — and what it would take to pass fuel efficiency standards that are grounded in sound economic theory.

December 17, 2018

New Environmental Ethics: 20 Years of
The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology

As the F&ES-based Forum on Religion and Ecology celebrates 20 years, we sit down with co-founder Mary Evelyn Tucker, who describes the growing global awareness of the relationship between the world’s religious and spiritual traditions and it can help humankind solve its environmental challenges.

November 8, 2018

‘Let the Rodent Do the Work’:
Reflections of a Beaver Believer

Author Ben Goldfarb ’13 M.E.M. says the near eradication of the once ubiquitous North American beaver had a profound impact on the continent’s landscapes and ecosystems. Now, he says, restoration of beaver populations can help humankind fight drought, improve water quality — even address climate change.

September 19, 2018

Selling the Farm

Joe Orefice ’09 M.F. gave up his farm, an endowed position at Cornell, and the verdant Adirondack Mountains to oversee Yale’s forests. Why? There are a few reasons.

Drought and Tree Mortality: Science
Reveals Harsh Future for World’s Forests

New research on the inner workings of trees and plants is providing clarity on just how vulnerable these living organisms are to the effects of climate change. In an interview, Craig Brodersen, a pioneer in this emerging field, describes how a warmer — and drier — climate threatens the world’s trees and forests.

New Applications for Drones in Swidden Agriculture

At F&ES, Andrew Wilcox ’18 M.F. pursued research on the forefront of remote sensing, machine learning, and drones. In an interview, he discusses his research into drone technology, how it might yield insights into the efficacy of swidden agriculture, and the potential future for the traditional farming method.

A Decade Later, Yale E360 Still Filling
Critical Gap in Environmental Journalism

Yale Environment 360, an online magazined based at F&ES, was created in 2008, a time when many media organizations were shedding science and environmental coverage. As it marks its 10th anniversary, e360 is still helping to fill that critical gap.

‘We’re Talking About Our Future Leaders’ Conservation Fellow Opens Door to Students

When the IUCN’s Grethel Aguilar was invited to be a visiting fellow at F&ES this semester she figured most of her time would be devoted to research. Instead she spent much of the spring working with students — and she couldn’t be happier about it.

Environmental Film Festival: ‘Proud
Parent’ Reflects on 10 Years of EFFY

In an interview, Eric Desatnik ’10 M.E.M., founder of the Environmental Film Festival at Yale, discusses original vision for the festival, how it has evolved over the past decade, and why film is such an important medium for telling environmental stories.

December 21, 2017

Solving the Ivory Deadlock

In an interview Gao Yufang ’14 M.E.Sc., who is now a doctoral student at F&ES, discusses a new paper he co-authored in Science that calls for a more iterative process that recognizes different value systems in order to save the world's disappearing elephants.

November 10, 2017

Message to Bonn Climate Talks:
Internal Carbon Pricing Shows Promise

In an interview, Casey Pickett, director of the recently launched Yale Carbon Charge, discusses how the initiative aims to change behavior across campus, the broad range of research opportunities made possible by the initiative, and how it might ultimately be applied by other organizations.

October 18, 2017

Is Fracking a Threat to Public Health?
Yale Scientists Aim to Provide Answers

In an interview, F&ES Prof. James Saiers describes the health concerns historically associated with fracking and how a new Yale research project could provide important insights into whether there is a link between unconventional drilling and adverse birth outcomes.

October 11, 2017

Achieving a ‘Natural Advanced State’:
Reflections of an Apprentice Forester

Andy Beck — a joint-degree student who had no forestry experience before coming to Yale — talks about why he decided to become a “forester” and the impacts of forestry decisions on the landscape.

October 5, 2017

Yale Economist: Trump Water Rule
Ignores Millions of Dollars in Benefits

The economic analysis conducted by the Trump administration to justify revoking the Waters of the U.S. rule falls short of a defensible and consistent basis, a Yale economist writes this week in Science. The implications go beyond weakening the Clean Water Act — it could undermine the credibility of economic studies conducted by federal agencies.

September 14, 2017

Cities Aren’t Ready for Weather Extremes
— No Matter What You Call Them

Xuhui Lee, a professor of meteorology at F&ES, says that it’s difficult to link climate change to two recent hurricanes that devastated parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean. But decades of scientific research do suggest that weather extremes such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma will become more common — and cities will pay a steep price.

September 13, 2017

Building Climate Resilience After Irma: An
Interview with F&ES Alum Lia Nicholson

Hurricane Irma devastated parts of the Caribbean last week, including the island of Barbuda, known for its sandy beaches and abudant wildlife. We reached out to Lia Nicholson '14 M.E.M. who works on climate change adaptation and mitigation for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to learn more about living with the threat of hurricanes and what small island nations are doing to build climate resilience.

Yale Economist: Trump Order Unlikely
To Alter Tightening U.S. Coal Market

President Trump today ifted a moratorium on the federal coal leasing program, predicting that it will create new jobs and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign energy sources. The order will do neither, predicts Kenneth Gillingham, a Yale economics professor who has published extensive research on the program.

December 13, 2016

Unraveling Ecological Mysteries
In a Vanishing American West

In an interview, new F&ES Prof. William Lauenroth discusses the challenges facing the western drylands, the changes he has observed during four decades of research, and strategies that could help protect remnants of a vanishing U.S. West.

December 7, 2016

‘Getting Beyond Our Borders’:
The National Parks in the 21st Century

Jonathan Meade ’99 M.E.Sc., deputy regional director of National Park Service’s Northeast region, describes the major challenges facing the NPS in the coming decades and the opportunities to expand both the boundaries of the NPS and the chorus of voices that can be part of the movement.

November 30, 2016

John Grim on Standing Rock: ‘This is Not
Only About Water, It’s All About Water’

In recent days, the conflict has escalated over construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. John Grim, a senior lecturer and research scholar at F&ES and an expert in Native American religions, discusses the historical, cultural, and spiritual significance of the Standing Rock demonstrations for Native people.

October 20, 2016

From River Guide to Academia,
Exploring Nature’s Power to Inspire

After spending nearly two decades introducing travelers to some of the world’s most beautiful places, Robert Powell came to Yale to study how tourism and other informal educational experiences can inspire people to connect with — and protect — the natural world.

October 5, 2016

A Systems Thinker Uses Market Forces to
Strengthen Environmental Conservation

Guillermo Castilleja has been described as a “true systems thinker,” something he says he developed while at F&ES. In an interview, Castilleja, a senior fellow at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, shares his vision for the foundation, his advice to students, and where he finds hope as a conservationist.

October 5, 2016

Prospect Street Awardee Targets
Conservation through Impact Investing

As the deputy managing director of NatureVest, Charlotte Kaiser, believes that impact investing can change the world of conservation. And she has the track record to prove it.

September 21, 2016

First Forester: The Enduring
Conservation Legacy of Gifford Pinchot

Gifford Pinchot, the first U.S. forest chief and founder of the Yale Forest School, doesn’t get enough credit, says historian Char Miller. In the early 20^th century, Miller says, Pinchot helped shape our modern understanding of conservation, environmental education, and the very notion of “public lands.”

After Yale Myers Fire,
Rebuilding Effort Moving Forward

As new manager at Yale Myers Forest, Shannon Murray ’14 M.E.M. certainly has had her hands full. But despite some challenges, including a devastating fire in May, she says it’s been an enjoyable summer at Yale Myers — and that the camp will be ready for summer MODs.

Kroon Cup Honors Students Whose
Stewardship Efforts Reshaped Kroon Hall

The F&ES community last week awarded the 2016 Kroon Cup to two graduating Master’s students, one who has helped transform Kroon Hall’s northern courtyard into a forest garden, and one whose sustainability work inside the School’s flagship building has earned him the nickname “Mr. Kroon.”

February 17, 2016

Lovejoy, ‘Godfather’ of Biodiversity,
Reflects On 50 Years in the Amazon

Over the past five decades Thomas Lovejoy has helped bring global attention to the Amazonian rainforest and the threats it faces, leading seminal research that has become the foundation of the field of conservation biology — even coining the term “biological diversity.” On Feb. 23 he visits F&ES to discuss his 50 years in the Amazon, and new directions in conservation.

F&ES Student Featured in Showtime’s “Years of Living Dangerously”

In the new Showtime series "Years of Living Dangerously," a group of celebrities help tell the story of climate change. But the real stars of the film are the people already living with its consequences or fighting to make the world more resilient - including Brendan Edgerton M.E.M. '15 M.B.A. '15.

February 3, 2014

Market Insights: Aligning China’s
Energy Goals With the ‘Public Good’

Xizhou Zhou M.E.M. '06 has worked on both the regulatory and industry sides of energy issues. Now the director of a China-based research team for an international consultancy, he helps companies and governments make better-informed energy policy decisions.

November 20, 2013

Video: F&ES Class Explores
‘Sustainable’ Responses to Disaster

In a video interview, Professor Gordon Geballe discusses an F&ES class that helps students explore how sustainable development can improve the response to disaster in
nations like Haiti.

November 7, 2013

In Remote Alaskan Villages, a Link Between Salmon and Human Health

Wild salmon populations are crucial to ecosystems throughout the Northwest — and in the Alaskan bush, they may be vital to human health, too.

October 24, 2013

Video: How Market Forces
Can Help Protect the World's Forests

In an interview with The MacMillan Report, F&ES Professor Ben Cashore describes how market forces can help protect the world's forests.

September 23, 2013

Defending Science on the
Climate War’s Front Lines

Michael Mann (’98 PhD) didn’t intend to thrust himself into the middle of the national debate over climate change. But after he helped produce the so-called “hockey stick” graph that’s precisely where Mann found himself.

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