Roberta Martin

Robin Martin is an associate professor of geography in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning and a faculty member in the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science. Martin’s research aims to better understand and quantify patterns in biodiversity and ecosystem function through the application of emerging technologies, including aircraft- and space-borne remote sensing and statistical modeling.  I am currently interested in tropical forests and coral reefs where patterns are difficult to observe and interpret due to their high diversity and inaccessibility.  My approach integrates field and laboratory measurements of functional traits of trees and corals with observational data to understand the evolutionary, phylogenetic, and environmental controls on plant and coral biochemistry and physiological functioning of forests and reefs to aid in conservation and management decisions. 

My main objective for teaching is to help students experience the vast biological diversity of our Earth and give them the knowledge and real-world skills needed to help manage and conserve it.  I will do this through a set of courses that are online with intensive field components and place-based projects.  This model will support a diversity of students from traditional university students to those who seek to incorporate an academic degree into a working life schedule.