Dr. Dee Boersma

Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science, Professor

not accepting graduate students

Dr. Boersma is the Director of the Center for Ecosystem Sentinels at the University of Washington in the Department of Biology and holds the Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science. Fieldwork has always been her passion, and her work spans 5 decades. In the 1970’s she started working with Galápagos penguins to determine how many there were, and now is trying to expand their population by providing high quality nests. Fork-tailed storm-petrels in Alaska kept her busy for a decade, and her Magellanic penguins studies in Argentina continued for over 40 years. She enjoys the penguin colony because it is noisy, bustling with activity, is over 100 miles from the nearest city, and often internet free. Dr. Boersma’s studies helped move tanker lanes farther offshore to decrease the number of penguins swimming through petroleum and informed legislation for Marine Protected areas in the Province of Chubut, Argentina. She’s been honored as a finalist for the Indianapolis Prize three times. In 2020 she endowed the Boersma Chair in Natural History and Conservation in the Center for Ecosystem Sentinel to ensure a place for long-term conservation studies at the university.

Education

Honorary Doctorate, 2003, Central Michigan University, Michigan
Ph.D. Zoology, 1974, Ohio State University, Ohio
B.Sc.(Honors) Biology, 1969, Central Michigan University, Michigan

Select Awards and Honors

Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2021)
Finalist, Indianapolis Prize (2016, 2018, 2020)
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, Ohio State University (2019)
Lifelong Learning Award, University of Washington (2018)
Pacific Seabird Group Lifetime Achievement Award (2017)
Mortar Board Alumni Achievement Award, Chicago IL (2012)
Ocean Conservation Award, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA (2012)
Naperville High School, Outstanding Alumni Award, Naperville, IL (2012)
Washington State Academy of Science, Elected (2011)
The Nature Conservancy of Washington Environmental Hero (2010)
Fulbright US Senior Scholar, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand (2010)

Select Leadership Positions

Co-chair, Penguin Specialist Group, International Union for Conservation of Nature (2014 to date)
Board of Directors, Peregrine Fund (1995–2002, 2003–2012, 2014 to date)
Editorial Board, PeerJ (2012 to date)
Board of Directors, Natural History Network (2008 to date)
Scientific Advisor, Penguin Taxon Advisory Group, AAZPA (1992 to date)
Scientific Fellow, Wildlife Conservation Society N.Y.Z.S, elected (1982-2020)
Executive Editor, Conservation Biology In Practice (2000 to 2014)
Advisory Board, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (1994 to 2012)
Member, U.S. National Committee, International Union for Biological Science (2001-2007)
Governing Board, Ecological Society of American (2004-2006)
Board of Directors, Islandwood (2001-2006)
Board of Editors, El Horneno (2002-2005)
Board of Governors, Society for Conservation Biology (1991-2005)
Ocean Science Advisory Board, Conservation International (2002-2004)
Naturalist, Lindblad Expeditions, Antarctica (2001-2004)
Board of Scientific Experts Comm. Partnership for Science and the Sea (2000-2004)
Advisory Board Island Press: Initiative on Environmental Instruction (1999-2004)
Board of Editors, Ecological Applications (1999-2002)
President, Society for Conservation Biology (1997-1999) Past President (1999-2001)
Principal Investigator, National Review of Recovery Plans for SCB and FWS (1998-2001)
Board of Directors, Bullitt Foundation (1997-2001)
Society for Conservation Biology, Board of Governors (1991-2001)
Washington Nature Conservancy, Board of Directors (1997-1998)
Bullitt Foundation, Board of Directors (1997-1998)
Pacific Seabird Group, Regional Representative (1981-1985)
Department of the Interior, Endangered Species Subcommittee, Chair (1979-1983)