Brian Griffiths is passionate about sustainable natural resource management and wildlife economies in the Peruvian Amazon. He is a human ecologist that also engages with anthropology, ecology, and conservation biology, and prioritizes community-driven work. His recent projects include the ecology of natural Amazonian mineral licks and the influence of cultural practices on hunter behavior, each conducted in collaboration with the Indigenous Maijuna people of Peru. Brian has done consulting work with the Smithsonian and United Nations, among others, on topics ranging from environmental education to wildlife economics. Brian helps direct the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research (ACEER, Director of Research) and OnePlanet (Director of Conservation Science). He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy (George Mason University) and bachelor’s degrees in Plant Science and Environmental Engineering (University of Delaware), and is a faculty member in the Earth Commons at Georgetown University where he teaches courses in sustainability. Before coming to Georgetown, Brian was a Postdoctoral Fellow at George Mason University, the Executive Director of ACEER, and a Fulbright grantee.
It’s my pleasure to welcome you all to the re-launch of the ACEER newsletter The Tributary.
My name is Brian Griffiths, the new President of ACEER. My ACEER journey began back in 2014 as a student on an expedition for the Ancestral Lands of the Ese’Eja project funded by National Geographic. I learned a lot from that time in the field – but most importantly, the project sparked a love for conservation in the Amazon. Years later, when I began a PhD, I decided to craft my new research program focused on that one first, powerful spark, and I became a human ecologist. In 2021, I took charge of ACEER’s new slate of programs as Executive Director, working alongside President Jon Cox to put in place a new vision for ACEER: a model focused on bridging art and science, and people and nature. We know that human systems and natural systems are one and the same, and that this false dichotomy has created a modern opposition of economics, culture, and conservation of nature that’s very real. We’re working to tackle this wicked challenge to bring our human and environmental systems back into harmony, where they belong.
We decided to relaunch The Tributary because our programs and our community are growing quickly, and we think it’s critical to everyone informed about the incredible impacts we’re seeing every day. The Tributary will provide you monthly updates on our accomplishments and news, updates on ACEER’s team members, stories of impact from our programs, sustainability tips, ways to take action, and more!
I can’t wait to share with you what we’ve been working on over the next few months. Our education team has been delivering top-notch in-person programs while also developing a robust program evaluation system to quantify impact. Our fundraising team is crafting new strategies for engagement of a diverse donor base in this period of financial uncertainty in the NGO sector. Our research team is working with new grants at the forefront of conservation science, alongside our Conservation Leaders deep in the forest. Our Artists in Residence are bridging art and science, crafting works that serve community goals and communicate the importance of rainforest conservation. And we’re just getting started!
Stay tuned for updates from a recent three-week expedition to the heart of the Amazon that our Conservation Leaders and Artists in Residence recently undertook together!
Sincerely,
Brian Griffiths, Ph.D.
President
Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research
