Dr. F. Stuart Chapin III, widely known as Terry, is a distinguished ecosystem ecologist and leading authority on the interconnections between climate change, ecological systems, and human communities. He currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus of Ecology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he has served with distinction since 1973, with a period at the University of California, Berkeley from 1989 to 1998. After earning his BA in Biology from Swarthmore College in 1966 and completing service with the Peace Corps in Colombia, he obtained his PhD in Biological Sciences from Stanford University in 1973. Dr. Chapin has dedicated his career to understanding Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems, establishing himself as the first Alaskan scientist elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2004.
Dr. Chapin's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how ecosystems respond to global environmental changes, particularly in vulnerable Arctic regions experiencing rapid climate shifts. His work integrating ecological science with social dimensions has produced groundbreaking frameworks for ecosystem stewardship that bridge natural and social sciences, influencing both academic theory and practical conservation approaches worldwide. His influential textbooks in ecosystem ecology and stewardship have educated generations of scientists, while his more than 500 scientific publications and 10 edited books have established foundational principles for understanding socio-ecological systems under stress. The development of resilience-based approaches to environmental management, particularly through his leadership in the Resilience Alliance, has provided communities with practical tools to navigate climate change impacts while maintaining cultural traditions and ecological integrity.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Chapin has been instrumental in building international scientific collaborations through organizations including the Resilience Alliance and the Ecological Society of America, where he served as president. He has mentored countless students and early-career scientists, establishing the Resilience and Adaptation Graduate Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to train the next generation of transdisciplinary environmental scholars. His recent book Grassroots Stewardship Sustainability within our Reach extends his work to engage the public in practical actions for sustainability, emphasizing how individual citizens can contribute to systemic change. Currently, Dr. Chapin continues to advise the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition and works with indigenous communities across the Arctic to develop locally grounded yet globally relevant strategies for adapting to climate change while preserving cultural heritage and ecosystem services.
