Profile of Susan P. Harrison

Abstract

Susan P. Harrison, a professor of environmental science and policy at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), has made seminal contributions to basic, theoretical, and conservation ecology. Her research, which includes studies concerning the spatial dynamics of plant and animal communities, large-scale diversity patterns, natural climatic variability, and anthropogenic climate change, continues to advance our understanding of the forces that shape natural communities. Elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2018, Harrison reports in her Inaugural Article (1) some of the first consistent patterns of plant diversity changes with water supply at multiple spatial scales. The findings could help to inform plant community conservation strategies, particularly in regions with water-limited climates. Fig. 1. Susan. P. Harrison. Image courtesy of Michael J. McRae (photographer). Harrison grew up in Sonoma, California. Her father, a physician, and social worker mother were both active in civic affairs and shared a love of the outdoors. They took Harrison and her five siblings on many camping and hiking excursions. Harrison says, “They deeply valued the natural environment, scholarship, and public service, and I like to think all of those elements found their way into my choice of profession.” Harrison majored in zoology at UC Davis, intending to attend medical school. Before earning a bachelor’s degree in 1983, Harrison was hired by ecologist Richard Karban at the university as a summer field assistant. “Some of this work took place in stunning natural settings, like the coastal bluffs at Bodega Bay, California,” she says. Her interest in ecology grew. “By the end of the summer, I was a convert and cancelled my plans to start medical school.” Karban became Harrison’s advisor when she pursued a Master’s degree in ecology at UC Davis. She says, “He had a formative influence on how I think about questions and approaches …