Photo by Anastasiia Sapon
The National Geographic Society announced this week that Justin Brashares, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, was named a National Geographic Explorer in Residence.
In his new role, Brashares will guide the scientific research and conservation strategy for Blue Boundaries: a National Geographic Society initiative focused on building lasting resilience for people and nature in the ecosystems where land meets water. The program focuses on safeguarding three of Earth’s most vital ecosystems—freshwater wetlands, coastal systems, and reefs—through on-location research and conservation projects, paired with compelling storytelling and innovative education.
“Blue Boundary environments are vital to the planet, providing essential services that support both people and nature,” Brashares said. “Through this program, we aim to understand the delicate balance of these ecosystems and identify scalable solutions to protect and restore them.”
As evening falls, a Lao farmer paddles homeward along the Mekong. Photo by Wilbur E. Garrett.
As chair of the program’s science committee, Brashares will mentor the program’s cohort of National Geographic Explorers. He also serves as an advisor to the Stone Center for Environmental Stewardship, which is providing scientific research support to Blue Boundaries. The first phase of the program focuses on freshwater wetlands in three regions: southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala; the Lower Mekong Basin, which spans Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam; and the Mississippi River.
“Justin’s work is driven by a simple but urgent reality that our planet’s rich biodiversity, the vital force sustaining its stability and resilience, is rapidly declining, and we are only just beginning to understand how that impacts our future,” said Ian Miller, chief science and innovation officer for the National Geographic Society. “By developing evidence-based conservation solutions rooted in science, Justin’s work demonstrates how on-the-ground research involving local communities can lead to meaningful protection.”
A wildlife and conservation scientist, Brashares blends ecology and conservation biology with new perspectives from interdisciplinary science to uncover holistic strategies for biodiversity conservation grounded in real-world evidence. His current research focuses on the causes and consequences of bushmeat hunting in Africa, the conservation of small populations in western North America, and the landscape ecology and conservation of African ungulates.
Justin Brashares (right) and Kendall Calhoun. UC Berkeley photo by Keegan Houser
At UC Berkeley, Brashares co-leads the California Wolf Project and advises the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment (DSE). Part of Rausser College and the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, DSE partners with policymakers, Indigenous and local communities, and land managers and co-develops software tools that help protect the environment.
“I’m deeply honored to join the community of National Geographic Explorers who are harnessing the power of science, innovation, and technology to inspire and create change," added Brashares, who has served as a member of the Society’s Committee on Research and Exploration since 2018. He now joins a broader community of UC Berkeley-affiliated Explorers, including Rausser College professors Damian Elias, Alejandra Echeverri, Christopher Schell, and Arthur Middleton, and alums such as Kendall Calhoun, PhD ’23 ESPM.
Learn more about the Blue Boundaries program on the National Geographic Society website.