The Atlantic - A conversation with Elena Bennett, professor of natural resource science
How do we make the most efficient and environmentally conscious use of our ecosystems, knowing that demand for natural resources is sure to increase?
In any given ecosystem, there are a multitude of resources that humans may want to exploit -- food, water, energy, recreation space -- and it is a balancing act to ensure that all these resources remain unspoiled. In her research, Elena Bennett, Professor of Natural Resources at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, hopes to create tools for communities and developers to use to better estimate their environmental impact. For instance, one topic she studies is how phosphorous, a key element in fertilizer, unintentionally contaminates water supplies. Here, she talks about what people don't understand about scientific research in general and why she's hopeful about future generations.
