Dr. Ruth DeFries is a Professor of Ecology and Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York. In addition to authoring over 100 scientific papers, she has written books on the complexities of sustainable development, such as “The Big Ratchet: How Humanity Thrives in the Face of Natural Crisis” and “What Would Nature Do?: A Guide for Our Uncertain Times.” Dr. DeFries is also committed to linking science with policy, as shown in her involvement with the Environmental Defense Fund, Science for Nature and People, and the World Wildlife Fund. Among many other distinctions, Dr. DeFries was elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, one of the country’s highest scientific honors, and received a MacArthur “Genius” Award.
Ruth is both a mother and a grandmother. Her children grew up in a time where climate change was a future risk, but her grandchildren are growing up in a time where climate change is a here and now reality. Her motivation for her work is to make the world a better place for everyone.