The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) welcomes John McCarty to our faculty as a professor of practice. McCarty, who holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University, describes himself as “broadly interested in ecology and environmental science and how science can contribute to multidisciplinary solutions to environmental problems.” His focus here at Tech will be on training and mentoring the next generation of ecologists and natural resource professionals.
“My goal is to help students reach their academic and professional goals—to help ensure they develop the skills needed to work effectively as members of multidisciplinary teams seeking solutions to complex environmental challenges,” McCarty said.
McCarty’s lab and field work is concentrated on bird conservation. His recent projects include investigating 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.
McCarty worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service early in his career, finding solutions to widespread PCB contamination in New York’s Hudson River. He also worked at the interface between science and policy as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C. In that capacity he focused on global climate change and topics related to natural resource management. He more recently served as a member of a US Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Panel, providing science-based expertise on policy matters related to endocrine disruptors and other environmental hazards. McCarty also led efforts by the Nebraska state chapter of The Nature Conservancy to develop and implement a statewide policy addressing global climate change.
“Michigan Tech and our college in particular is very fortunate to have Dr. McCarty join our team,” said CFRES Dean David Flaspohler. “John brings extensive experience to his role in the college, including instruction for our introductory first-year class, The Natural Resource Professional (FW1050), which is also part of Michigan Tech’s Essential Education program. The students really enjoy his thoughtful and welcoming approach to teaching this important class.”
