John P. McCarty

Biography

Applied Ecology and Environmental Science
I am broadly interested in ecology and environmental science and how science can contribute to multidisciplinary solutions to environmental problems. Most of the field work conducted in my lab has focused on the ecology and conservation of birds, with some additional work on other organisms, especially butterflies. Recent projects involved questions about the role of natural areas in maintaining diverse and abundant bird communities, how changes in farming practices impact bird and butterfly communities, birds and butterflies in urban environments, and use of agricultural fields as stopover sites for migratory shorebirds.

In addition to my field-based research, I have a long term in interest in the role science plays in finding solutions to environmental problems. Earlier in my career this included working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service towards finding solutions to wide-spread PCB contamination in the Hudson River of New York and a period working at the interface between science and policy as an AAAS Science Policy Fellow in Washington D.C., where I focused global climate change and topics related to natural resource management. More recently, I served as a member of a US Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Panel to provide scientific advice about policy matters related to endocrine disruptors and other environmental hazards. I also work with decision makers and stakeholders at a more local level. A recent example included my role as a member Board of Trustees for the Nebraska Chapter of The Nature Conservancy where I lead efforts to develop and incorporate a state-wide policy for addressing global climate change into the organization’s mission.

My current focus as a Professor of Practice here at Michigan Tech University is on training and mentoring the next generation of ecologists and natural resource professionals. Through my courses and other teaching opportunities, my goal is to help students reach the academic and professional goals, and to help ensure the develop the skills needed to work effectively as members of multidisciplinary teams seeking solutions to complex environmental challenges.