Curtis J. Richardson

Dr. Curtis J. Richardson received a PhD in ecology from the University of Tennessee. He is now a professor in the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University, where he is the founder and director of the Duke Wetlands Center. He has been involved in wetland research, policy, and service for nearly 30 years.

He has authored or co-authored more than 150 papers and reports, including seminal works on phosphorus cycling and retention in wetlands. Since 2003, Dr. Richardson has been a scientific advisor to Iraqi ecologists working to restore the marshlands in southern Iraq. He has managed large-scale research projects such as the multi-investigator effort examining the impact of hydrological and nutrient alterations on the restoration of the Everglades. He has also been a mentor to some of the leading wetland scientists of this generation. Dr. Richardson served as vice-president and president of the Society of Wetland Scientists. He is a fellow of SWS, the Soil Science Society of America, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Richardson is committed to translating his research into realistic management techniques that can sustain wetland ecological functions. Throughout his career, he has pioneered groundbreaking approaches to making sound science an integral part of public policy decisions.