Nyeema Harris Wins 2023 IDEAL Award
Nyeema C. Harris, Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation at YSE, was honored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) with the 2023 Inspiring Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Acceptance and Learning (IDEAL) Award. The award recognizes commendable leadership in advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and learning in the biological sciences community.
“Dr. Harris’ work is tremendously important. We applaud her steadfast dedication both to science and the diverse community of practitioners who are its foundation,” Scott Glisson, CEO of AIBS, said.
Harris’ research explores carnivore behavior and movement and ecology and conservation in urban systems and national parks at a global scale, with ongoing projects throughout the Americas and Africa, specifically. She examines spatial and temporal variations in species interactions, how networks are structured, the ecological consequences of species loss and land-use change, and mechanisms that promote coexistence between carnivores and humans. She directs the Applied Wildlife Ecology (AWE) Lab at YSE, which aims to promote human–wildlife coexistence around the world in urban, agricultural, and protected landscapes while demonstrating a commitment to public engagement and inclusivity. She co-founded the Black Ecologist Section of the Ecological Society of America and recently completed a National Science Foundation-funded project centered on environmental literacy in urban youth in Detroit.
"My approach has always been to operate from a place of integration, where my DEIJ efforts are fundamental in my scholarship, pedagogy, and engagement,” Harris said.
Harris received the award at the AIBS Council of Member Societies and Organizations meeting November 30, 2023. It was presented to her by previous award winner Steward T. A. Pickett, a plant ecologist and senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.
Nyeema Harris
Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation
More News in Brief
Mapping Public Opinion on Climate Change Across the UK
Urban residents in the United Kingdom perceive greater risks from climate change than rural residents, according to new opinion maps released by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
The online interactive maps depict public climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, policy support, and experiences with climate impacts across the U.K. by respondents 16 years and older in 12 regions who were surveyed in November, 2024. The responses show that a majority of U.K. residents believe climate change is happening (85%), that it is caused mostly by human activities (74%), and is worrisome (78%). However, 84% believe it is a distant threat, harming future generations. Only 55% think it will harm them personally, despite many of the respondents reporting that they dealt with major floods in the past year.
“The mismatch between personal experience and climate attribution revealed by the maps is consistent with prior research finding that direct exposure to extreme weather does not automatically translate into stronger belief that climate change affects these events,” the Yale researchers note.
Photo credit: SteveAllenPhoto via iStock
YPCCC’s Eric Fine Honored With Kroon Cup
As a project manager at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Eric Fine’s dedication to sustainability extends far beyond his job description. He leads by example: biking to work in all weather, personally maintaining the campus bike repair station he helped install, pushing for carbon-free retirement investment options, and is working towards net-zero at home.
In recognition of his efforts, Fine was awarded the Yale School of the Environment Kroon Cup, , which is presented annually to individuals and groups that embody stewardship and implement projects that engage and inspire the YSE community. Students, staff, and faculty vote to determine the winner among a list of nominated candidates.
One of his nominators said it best. “Nobody more than Eric walks the talk on advancing YSE's mission of sustainability on a daily basis, through his individual actions and on behalf of the YPCCC and the YSE community.”
Fenichel Paper Honored for Enduring Impact on Epidemic Modeling
Eli Fenichel, the Knobloch Family Professor of Natural Resource Economics, and co-authors have been awarded the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association’s 2025 Paper of Enduring Quality Award for their 2011 PNAS paper on integrating human behavior into models of infectious disease. The study laid key foundations for interdisciplinary research, bridging economics and epidemiology—an approach that proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I saw a lot of epidemiologists and economists recommending it to each other to figure out how to collaborate on COVID-19 research,” Fenichel said. “I think it set a benchmark for interdisciplinary research on epidemics.”
The award will be presented at the AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, on July 28.
Eli Fenichel
Knobloch Family Professor of Natural Resource Economics