Titles

• Senior Global Futures Scientist, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
• Research Professor, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Biography

Dr. Pearson's research is focused on the interaction of history and ecology in structuring communities. He uses biogeographical, phylogenetic and ecological hypotheses to test predictions of species co-occurrence patterns. These patterns are then applied to basic community structure studies as well as to determining priority areas for conservation. Although he has worked on a breadth of organisms from crabs and insects to Paramecium and birds, and a range of habitat types from coral atolls to desert grasslands, his current research concentrates on a small group of insects, tiger beetles, in tropical lowland rain forests around the world. Dr. Pearson also works on developing new techniques for environmental education, especially in South America.

Education

• PhD, University of Washington, 1973
• MS, Louisiana State University, 1969
• BS, Pacific Lutheran University, 1967

Expertise

• terrestrial ecology
• Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Climate Action
• Reduced Inequalities
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• No Poverty
• Quality Education
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Responsible Consumption and Production
• Life on Land
• Partnerships for the Goals
• biogeography
• species adaptation
• ornithology
• environmental policy
• educational development
• ecological literacy
• ecological behavior
• deforestation
• conservation
• community ecology
• species distribution
• environmental education