BOZEMAN - The Institute on Ecosystems at Montana State University will host ecologist Ruth DeFries, a professor of ecology and sustainable development at Columbia University and co-founding dean of the Columbia Climate School, as the second speaker in its spring 2024 Distinguished Lecture Series.

The series aims to provide MSU and the Bozeman community with insights into the diverse experiences of accomplished scientists.

DeFries will present "From the Sky to the Ground: A Quest for Healthy Land and People" at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, in the Crawford Theater at the Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, 111 S. Grand Ave. in Bozeman. The talk is free and open to the public.

DeFries' research uses satellite images and field surveys to examine how the world's demand for food and other resources is changing land use. DeFries was elected as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, one of the country's highest scientific honors, and received a MacArthur Fellowship, also referred to as a "Genius Grant." DeFries is the founder and director of the Network for Conserving Central India.

In addition to DeFries, the remaining spring speaker in the Distinguished Lecture Series will be Jill Falcon Ramaker, assistant professor of community nutrition and sustainable food systems at MSU, on April 25.