Dr. Gregory Asner stands as a distinguished leader in ecological science with significant contributions to global conservation efforts. He currently serves as the Director of Arizona State University's Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, a position he has held since 2019, while maintaining faculty appointments in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning and the School of Earth and Space Exploration. Based in Hawaii, Dr. Asner oversees ASU's scientific activities across terrestrial and marine ecosystems with a global perspective. His academic foundation includes a B.S. in Engineering (Radiative Physics), M.S. in Geography, and Ph.D. in Biology, all earned at the University of Colorado Boulder between 1991 and 1997. This interdisciplinary background has uniquely positioned him to bridge technological innovation with ecological understanding throughout his distinguished career.
Dr. Asner's pioneering work has revolutionized ecosystem monitoring through the development of advanced remote sensing technologies and analytical frameworks. As the founder of the Global Airborne Observatory and creator of the Carnegie Landsat Analysis System and CLASlite, he has established methodologies for comprehensive ecosystem assessment at regional to global scales. His research spans spatial ecology, biodiversity conservation, terrestrial carbon cycling, and coral reef resilience, with applications that have directly influenced environmental policy decisions across multiple nations. The LiDAR scanning program developed by his team has proven instrumental in critical conservation initiatives, including the protection of Mirador National Park and carbon-based forest conservation efforts. With hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific publications, his work provides essential data for understanding and addressing climate change impacts on vulnerable ecosystems worldwide.
Recognized for his exceptional contributions, Dr. Asner was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and received the prestigious 2017 Heinz Award for his environmental leadership. He serves as managing director of the Allen Coral Atlas, creating the first comprehensive online map of global coral reefs to guide conservation efforts. Through his involvement with NASA, the U.S. State Department, and United Nations programs, he has shaped international approaches to ecosystem management and climate change mitigation. Dr. Asner actively bridges the gap between scientific discovery and public understanding, promoting optimism about environmental challenges through accessible communication of scientific breakthroughs. His ongoing work continues to advance technological solutions for ecosystem monitoring while inspiring practical actions that individuals and organizations can implement to protect our planet's biodiversity.
