Karen Steensma M.Sc.

Co-director, Environmental Studies Program Sessional Assistant Professor of Biology

Department: FNAS; Environmental Studies; Biology

Area of Expertise: Coral reef ecosystems (particularly Hawaii); Farmland preservation; Interface between freshwater streams and adjacent land uses; Organic and sustainable agriculture; Pacific Northwest marine ecology; Tropical marine biology; Salmon habitat restoration; Biology; Marine biology; Marine environment;

Research: Conservation biology, marine ecology, coral reef ecology, and ecological agriculture. Research has particularly centered around invertebrates, with an active research program on the Oregon forest snail, Allogona townsendiana, under a grant from the Endangered Species Recovery Fund/World Wildlife Fund Canada. Other interest areas include the interface between salmon-bearing streams and agriculture, and impacts of human development on freshwater and marine ecosystems (both temperate and tropical). Co-owner of Steensma Dairy, an ecologically sustainable commercial farm.

Education: B.Sc (Washington State) M.Sc (Western Washington)