Steven W. Running is a distinguished ecologist whose pioneering work has significantly advanced global understanding of Earth's ecosystems and climate interactions. He served as Regents Professor of Ecology at the University of Montana's W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation where he established himself as a leading authority in environmental science for nearly four decades. After receiving his Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from Colorado State University in 1979 he joined the University of Montana faculty that same year and maintained this position until transitioning to Professor Emeritus status in 2017. Despite formal retirement Dr. Running continues to actively contribute to environmental science research and policy discussions maintaining his influential presence in the scientific community through ongoing scholarly work and public engagement.
Dr. Running's most significant contribution came in 1989 when he developed a groundbreaking algorithm adopted by NASA for monitoring global vegetation and carbon cycles from satellite data. This algorithm became foundational for satellite-based observation systems that track Earth's changing ecosystems and has been instrumental in advancing global environmental assessments used by scientists worldwide. His work has provided critical data for understanding climate change impacts on forest ecosystems and global carbon dynamics establishing new methodologies for remote sensing applications in ecological monitoring. The real-world impact of his contributions extends beyond academia with his approaches being adopted by major international climate assessment initiatives and informing global environmental policy discussions through robust scientific evidence.
Beyond his technical contributions Dr. Running has been a prominent voice in climate science communication and policy advocacy serving as an expert witness in landmark climate litigation including the Montana children's climate lawsuit in 2023. His leadership in connecting ecological research with practical climate solutions has bridged academic science and real-world environmental challenges influencing both scientific understanding and policy development through clear communication of complex environmental issues. As Professor Emeritus he continues to mentor the next generation of environmental scientists and contribute to critical climate change discussions through public engagement and expert testimony. His enduring legacy lies in establishing robust scientific frameworks for monitoring Earth's ecosystems that continue to inform environmental policy and advance our understanding of the planet's changing climate systems providing essential tools for future generations of scientists.
