Dr. Sophia Winkler-Schor
I am a conservation psychologist focused on fostering the adoption of sustainable agricultural and conservation practices to mitigate climate change, biodiversity loss, and promote sustainable development. Specifically, I am interested in identifying mechanisms to improve the design of policies focused on changing long-term land management practices via short-term financial incentive programs such as payments for ecosystem services, conditional cash transfers, etc. My research uses a mixed-methods approach drawing predominantly from the conservation social sciences and social psychology, as well as other social science disciplines. My doctoral research focused on long-term adoption of agroforestry practices related to Mexico’s flagship program Sembrando Vida. In addition to my graduate studies, I was previously a fellow at the United Nations Foundation focused on increasing adoption of clean cookstoves, and an intern at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).  

Project: Wisconsin Demonstration Farm Networks

Ph.D. University of Wisconsin–Madison, Environment & Resources
M.Sc. Georg-August Universität Göttingen / M.INC Lincoln University, International Nature Conservation
B.S. University of Washington, Environmental Science & Terrestrial Resource Management
B.A. University of Washington, Environmental Studies

Email: Sophiaw@illinois.edu
Web: Sophiawinklerschor.com
Web: Google Scholar

Nouman Afzal
I am an environmental social scientists interested: (1) in the production and use of information in natural resource management and decision-making; (2) and the role of beliefs, attitudes, and values in in this. My research focuses on groundwater resource in agricultural area. Presently, I am working on a project funded by USDA-NIFA investigating the use of hydrological models by policy actors, farmers, municipalities etc. for water-related decision making in Kansas, United States. I am specifically looking at what and how ecological and epistemic values influence or are associated with various decisions, and how does uncertainty affect trust in hydrological models and scientists in general. I am also planning to conduct fieldwork in Pakistan in summer 2024 investigating how changes in the monsoon season are perceived by various stakeholders, and how does information related to it is communicated and applied. I previously worked at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) managing projects related to food waste and loss, livelihood improvements and agroforestry.

Project: USDA-NIFA Kansas Water Project, Sustaining ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes through a better understanding of decision-support systems

MSc. Environment and Development, University of Leeds, UK
BSc. (Hons.) Geography/GIS, Forman Christian College, Pakistan

noumana2@illinois.edu
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nouman-Afzal-3
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cSYYefkAAAAJ&hl=en

Lara Mengak
Broadly, I am interested in the intersections between natural and human systems. I am an interdisciplinary PhD student with a focus on wildlife ecology and conservation social science. For my dissertation, I am looking at the social-ecological system of wolves, ranchers, and drought and how these factors affect the relationships between people and wildlife on Western rangelands. We hope to understand how humans make decisions regarding drought, wolves, and other rangeland conditions, and how large ungulates respond to drought and wolf activity.

Project: Wildlife and Humans in Shared Landscapes (WHISL)

M.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech
B.S. Ecology, University of Georgia

lara.mengak@oregonstate.edu
WHISL

Eden Rozing
I am a conservation social scientist interested in examining how people’s knowledge, attitudes, and values contribute to wildlife management outcomes across different socio-ecological systems. My current research focuses on the social aspects of freshwater invertebrate conservation across the US Midwest, particularly in the context of anthropogenic climate change. For this project, I will use survey data to comparatively assess perceptions regarding climate-related risks to freshwater invertebrates, as well as intentions to engage in behaviors to protect these species, among people who volunteer with community science groups and members of the broader public. This work will inform the design of future public outreach efforts focused on freshwater invertebrate conservation. 

Project: Improving Freshwater Invertebrate Conservation Through Increased Public Engagement and Support

M.S., Forest Resources, University of Arkansas at Monticello (2024)

B.A., Environmental Studies, Bard College at Simon’s Rock (2021)

erozing2@illinois.edu

Gayanthi Ilangarathna
I am environmental social scientist interested in the intersections of food security, climate adaptation, resilience, and vulnerability, particularly within the contexts of smallholder farmers and Indigenous communities. My research combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches, drawing on multidisciplinary collaborations across the social and environmental sciences. I have worked closely with smallholder farmers in rural Sri Lanka and with Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic, experiences that continue to shape my understanding of how local knowledge, institutions, and socio-environmental dynamics influence adaptation and food system resilience.

Project: Soil Carbon Sequestration Technologies in Voluntary Carbon Markets

MSc in Geography, Virginia Tech

BSc in Agricultural Technology and Management, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

eai4@illinois.edu
Google scholar

Alex Ramirez
I am interested in the human dimensions of regenerative agriculture. My current project focuses on farmers’ and landowners’ place attachment and how that shapes their decisions on adopting regenerative and conservation practices specifically agroforestry, into their farming operations.

Project: Agroforestry Adoption in Illinois

B.S. Environmental Studies

Ar78@illinois.edu
LinkedIn_Ramirez