Dr Thomas S. B. AKRE

Ecologist and Program Scientist, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute & Working Land and Seascapes

Tom Akre is the program scientist for the Working Land and Seascapes action area of the Smithsonian Conservation Commons and founder of the Changing Landscapes Initiative. Working Land and Seascapes seeks to understand and integrate the needs of people and nature, using sound scientific and socio-economic research to drive action and develop sustainable solutions for biodiversity conservation. Prior to his current position, Akre was the director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Virginia Working Landscapes program. The program brought local landowners and citizen scientists together with Smithsonian scientists and students to understand best practices for ecosystem and biodiversity conservation on public and private lands in Virginia. Akre earned his Ph.D. in environmental science and public policy from George Mason University. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Savannah River Ecology Lab at the University of Georgia.