Dr. Monica G. Turner stands as a preeminent leader in the field of landscape ecology and holds the distinguished position of Eugene P. Odum Professor of Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She concurrently serves as a Vilas Research Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, reflecting her significant contributions to ecological science. Turner completed her undergraduate studies at Fordham University, earning a BS in Biology summa cum laude, before pursuing and obtaining her PhD in Ecology from the University of Georgia. Following her doctoral work, she conducted postdoctoral research with the renowned ecologist Eugene P. Odum and subsequently spent seven formative years as a research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty in 1994, bringing her expertise in spatial ecology to one of the nation's leading ecological research institutions.
Turner is internationally recognized as a founding figure in landscape ecology, having literally written the textbook on the subject with her seminal work 'Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice,' now in its second edition. Her groundbreaking long-term research on the 1988 Yellowstone fires has provided unparalleled insights into ecosystem recovery following major disturbances, establishing new frameworks for understanding fire ecology at landscape scales. With approximately 250 scientific publications and six authored or edited books, her scholarly output has profoundly shaped contemporary ecological theory and practice. Turner's innovative investigations into spatial heterogeneity, disturbance dynamics, and climate change impacts have established her as a central figure in advancing landscape-scale ecological understanding. Her work on connectivity across landscapes, thresholds in habitat patterns, and species movement has provided fundamental principles now widely adopted in conservation planning and management.
Beyond her research accomplishments, Dr. Turner has demonstrated exceptional commitment to education and mentorship, teaching courses from introductory biology to advanced landscape ecology while specifically encouraging women in science. She has held significant leadership roles including serving as president of the Ecological Society of America and chairing the Department of Zoology's Instructional Programs Committee at UW-Madison. Turner continues to lead cutting-edge research on fire ecology, bark beetle outbreaks, and climate change impacts in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, while also studying land-water interactions in Wisconsin landscapes. Her current projects examine abrupt ecological changes and spatial dynamics of ecosystem services, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences and recipient of the Ecological Society of America's prestigious Robert H. MacArthur Award, Turner's legacy as a transformative figure in ecology continues to grow through her active research program and enduring influence on the next generation of scientists.
