Christopher Vaughan
Areas of expertise
Wildlife, Wildlands & Ecosystem Management
Degrees
- B.S. in Biology, Grinnell College
- M.Sc. in Natural Resources (Wildlife Management), University of Costa Rica-CATIE
- Ph.D. in Land Resources, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Honorary Doctorate, Grinnell College
Potential student research areas
- Vertebrate ecology in cacao agroecosystems (especially sloths)
- Energy, carbon and financial flows in cacao agroecosystems
- Oral histories of senior citizens in cacao agroecosytems
- Endangered scarlet macaw ecology and community conservation
- Strategic planning for endangered tropical ecosystems
- Develop and carry out a national/community environmental education program for one of Costa Rica’s most important watersheds
- Organic gardening and sustainability
Biography
As a researcher, teacher, facilitator, volunteer, organic farmer, and activist, Christopher Vaughan has dedicated his life to understanding and protecting tropical natural environments and sharing his passion for grassroots environmentalism with new generations of students. Between 1974-2000, he taught wildlife and wildlands courses at the Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. For 15 years (1980-1995), he served as science coordinator and field advisor to over 70 ACM students in the ACM Costa Rica Spring field research program. Twenty-five of his 100 peer reviewed scientific publications were coauthored with ACM students. As adjunct professor in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology and Management at UW-Madison (2002-2009), Dr. Vaughan taught the Extinction of Species and Ecosystem Management courses and coordinated a USDA-UW-Milwaukee Public Museum study on cacao agroecosystem biodiversity and productivity. He is currently the Program Director for the ACM Costa Rica programs.