Urban Ecology & Conservation · Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University
We study how biodiversity shapes ecosystem function and services in cities — and what urban green spaces can offer for plant conservation. Our lab is part of the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Our Research →How does plant diversity affect urban cooling, microclimate, and ecosystem services? We study lawns, street trees, and parks across Chicago.
Cities host hundreds of threatened tree species. We ask how urban forests can serve as living conservation collections while building resilience.
Is vegetation quality — not just quantity — inequitably distributed? We link remote sensing data to sociodemographic patterns across Chicago.