Blake Alexander Simmons Email & Phone Number

St Petersburg, Florida, United States

I work with partners throughout the watershed to design and implement research projects and social marketing campaigns that span the fields of psychology, ecology, economics, and political science to address modern conservation challenges.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Teaching Assistant and Sustainability Lab Lecturer for ENVR E-100: Introduction to Sustainability & ENVR E-101: Introduction to Sustainability and Environmental Management

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Course creator, lecturer, and lab instructor for ENVR E-177: Managing Conservation Trade-Offs

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

My research investigates the factors shaping global wildlife and nature values to inform adaptive wildlife conservation strategies in a rapidly changing world.

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Working within the Global Development Policy Center, my research investigates the impacts of China's Belt and Road Initiative on biodiversity and indigenous peoples.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

Visiting Fellow with the Institute for Future Environments at Queensland University of Technology.

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

My current project aims to illuminate the complex factors driving land clearing at the individual level and their subsequent effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function, using the Brigalow Belt bioregion of eastern Queensland as a case study. Using a range of interdisciplinary approaches amalgamating the biophysical, economic, demographic, and cultural dimensions of clearing, he is interested in determining how effective historic vegetation management policy has been at reducing rates of remnant vegetation clearing over time, and how these observed trends may be influenced by economic indicators, psychosocial behaviours, and political regime changes. The goal for this project is to develop a transdisciplinary framework for assessing the underlying mechanisms of deforestation in a developed country, which can be applied to other developed and developing countries experiencing rapid declines of native vegetation. Ultimately, this project will serve as a guide for future vegetation management policy amendments that can be effectively tailored to maximize biodiversity, restore ecosystem functions, and sustain local livelihoods amidst mounting political and environmental uncertainties.

Brisbane, Australia

The goal of the Equity, Inclusion and Diversity committee is to engage a broader community of students and professionals in SCB’s activities, recognizing that today’s complex biodiversity conservation challenges require input and analysis from a variety of voices, vantage points, and expertise from different geographies, backgrounds, disciplines, and dimensions. The diversity committee leads the Society in realizing its role and potential to become more inclusive and welcoming of diversity broadly, and fosters a shared vision and accepting position for the development of a diverse membership and leadership.

Brisbane, Australia

Responsibilities include visiting participating schools, working with students on their challenge tasks and supporting them with the development of their science projects.

Brisbane, Australia

Responsible for leadership and oversight of marketing strategies for SCCS-Australia 2019, including advertisement, recruitment, web and app development, and media

Brisbane, Australia

Responsible for designing websites, logos, figures, and promotional materials for conferences, presentations, journal articles, and professional and social events

Antwerp Area, Belgium

Over the last twenty years, local communities have heavily utilized Nechisar National Park in southern Ethiopia, and its landscape has noticeably degraded due to an explosive population increase and extensive overgrazing by pastoralists. The deterioration of natural resources has had a severe impact on the health and biodiversity of the park, with bush encroachment by the invasive sicklebush (Dichrostachys cinerea) as one of the most prevalent proximate threats. My Master's project investigated the temporal dynamics of bush encroachment over the past 25 years. In addition, the influence of wild and domestic ungulates as seed-dispersing agents on sicklebush encroachment was investigated; ungulate species distribution patterns were mapped, and the efficiency with which D. cinerea, Acacia nilotica, and Solanum incanum germination is facilitated after ingestion and defecation by these ungulates was tested. While sicklebush patches are invading the plains, the patches are not propagating to create dense bushlands. Significant clustering of sicklebush patches over all study sites was observed, with small patches tending to be more isolated from other patches. The influence of livestock on bush encroachment in the Nechisar plains via seed dispersal may be minimal. Factors such as habitat alteration and the alleviation of grass-shrub competition may be the primary mechanism encouraging sicklebush encroachment.

Antwerp Area, Belgium

I co-authored the 2013 International Studbook Report for golden-headed lion tamarins (GHLTs), complete with an overview of GHLT characteristics, a current and historical listing of all GHLTs managed in captivity, and ex-situ population analyses.I also created recommendations based on demographic and genetic analyses for each institution in the EEP (i.e. details regarding whom to transfer, pair, breed, contracept).

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Natural Resources/Conservation, General

Master'S Degree, Biology, Biodiversity: Conservation And Restoration

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc), Biology, General