National News
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Names Science Advisor
By HE&IT
Jul 12, 2010, 19:01

Dr. Gabriela Chavarria, former Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Science Center, has been named Science Advisor to the Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 
A leading expert in pollinators, Dr. Chavarria holds a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University obtained under the direction of noted professors Edward O. Wilson and Dr. James M. Carpenter (now at the American Museum of Natural History). She has tremendous expertise and experience in invasive species control and the conservation of threatened and endangered species. Scholarly publications include articles on biodiversity, bird conservation, invasive species, entomology and pollinators.
 
“The Service is incredibly lucky to have Dr. Chavarria join their ranks and add a new level of scientific expertise and credibility to the agency,” said Dr. E.O. Wilson. “Dr. Chavarria’s experience and credentials will be an asset to the Service as they build their science capacity.”
 
Dr. Chavarria will serve as counsel to the Service Director and provide leadership on science policy and scientific applications in resource management.

This includes leading agency efforts to respond to changes in the global climate system; shaping the Service’s agenda for change toward a science-driven landscape conservation business model; expanding Service capacities to acquire, apply and communicate scientific information; promoting active involvement of the Service and its employees in the larger scientific community; strengthening and expanding partnerships between the Service and other scientific organizations, particularly states and the U.S. Geological Survey; and cultivating the next generation of Service scientists.
 
“Science is at the heart of everything we do in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Service Acting Director Rowan Gould. “Dr. Chavarria’s knowledge and expertise, as well as her ability to forge strong partnerships within and outside the scientific community, will help the Service continue to take major steps toward science excellence in the 21st Century.”
 
As Director of the NRDC’s Science Center, Dr. Chavarria applied her scientific knowledge to translate the most up-to-date science into solutions for environmental problems. Her close ties to scientists and key policy-makers helped advance NRDC’s goal of uniting sound science with sound policy and education for the mutual benefit of people and nature.
 
Prior to joining NRDC, she served as the Vice President for Science and International Conservation at Defenders of Wildlife, Policy Director for Wildlife Conservation at the National Wildlife Federation and as the Director of International and Special Programs at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Washington, D.C.
 
Dr. Chavarria also serves on a number of boards and advisory councils, including the Society for Conservation Biology, the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Committee on Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities, and the Mexican Conservation Fund for Nature.

She was also a member of the National Invasive Species Advisory Committee, the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, the Alice Ferguson Foundation, and the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Team. She is a member of several professional societies, including the Association for Women in Science, the Society for Conservation Biology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Ecological Society of America, and The Wildlife Society.
 
Born and raised in Mexico City, Dr. Chavarria has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the National University of Mexico, and a masters and Ph.D. in organismic and evolutionary biology from Harvard University.

Her research focused on the systematics, behavior, and biogeography of neotropical bumble bees. She has conducted research on these topics in more than 30 countries in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and is a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, where she works on pollinator conservation.
 
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.