Carena van Riper

Dr. van Riper is a conservation psychologist at the University of Illinois interested in understanding human values and behavior related to the sustainability of social-ecological systems, particularly aquatic ecosystems. Her lab works closely with resource management agencies to facilitate public participation in decision-making and enhance science communication. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the Great Lakes Basin through this project and help identify ways to minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Cory Suski

Dr. Suski’s research group at the University of Illinois works to design conservation strategies that protect aquatic ecosystems from environmental and anthropogenic challenges.  As some examples, in the past they have developed novel tools for deterring the movement of invasive fishes, and have generated guidelines for recreational anglers to minimize disturbances for fish.  This project is an intersection of several of his different research interests, and the opportunity to work with anglers and have a conservation benefit is very appealing.

Richard Stedman

Rich Stedman is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University, where he also co-directs the Human Dimensions Research Unit.  He is the leader of the Human Dimensions theme for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.  He brings a social-ecological systems perspective to the study of aquatic invasive species and Great Lakes systems more generally.

Elizabeth Golebie

Elizabeth is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at UIUC. Focusing on aquatic social-ecological systems, her research aims to understand relationships between values, risk perceptions, and behavior with an applied goal of informing communication strategies for environmental outreach. Interdisciplinary collaboration and involving stakeholders and practitioners at multiple stages of the research process are key components of her work.

North Joffe-Nelson

North is an M.S. student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. Having received his B.A. in Environmental Policy from Western Washington University, he is chiefly interested in how politics and economics affect the viability of conservation policy. Through the modeling of angler preference and behavior, he is interested in identifying and developing avenues for fisheries policy that are socially as well as ecologically sustainable.

Seunguk Shin

Seunguk is a PhD student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. Stemming from his background of a Bachelor’s degree in environmental education and a M.S. in forest sciences, Seunguk is broadly interested in the relationship between people and nature. Connecting nature-based outdoor recreation and human environmentalism, Seunguk is analyzing how people’s experiences with nature can impact their environmental attitudes and behavior.

Alison Siever

Alison is an undergraduate majoring in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. While working with the van Riper lab, Alison is excited to improve her knowledge of the social sciences in relation to natural resources, specifically fisheries. In the future, she hopes to work in marine conservation focusing on media and outreach to bring awareness and support to issues such as overfishing and coral restoration. Alison spends her free time improving her photography, working towards becoming SCUBA certified, and hanging out with her two huskies, Ice and Isla.

Danika Ford

Danika is a student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Human Dimensions of the Environment. She is interested in understanding human behavior related to environmental issues along with environmental education for youth. In the future, she hopes to work on the social side of sustainability, either as an environmental consultant or environmental educator. In her free time, she enjoys playing the saxophone, singing, knitting, and spending time with friends.

Sof Ford

Sof Ford is an undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry, minoring in Chemistry and Political Science, and is a fellow with the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment. While working with the van Riper lab, she looks forward to gaining technical research skills and building a base of knowledge about human dimensions research, which she hopes to employ in the future as a public health researcher. In her free time, she enjoys reading and baking.