Engaged Ecology
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Our Vision
The Engaged Ecology Initiative envisions a world where people and the planet thrive together. We’re building a global community committed to justice, peace, and sustainability by inspiring new ways of thinking and living. Through research, education, and local action, we help individuals and communities renew themselves and restore the Earth. This vision rests on the recognition that lasting ecological change emerges from ethical reflection, shared responsibility, and sustained engagement at the human scale.
Our Mission
The Engaged Ecology Initiative sparks positive change through research, education, and community action. We focus on environmental ethics and conservation—especially in the Edwards Plateau region—while connecting local efforts to global challenges. By working with students, partners, and communities, we promote resilience, sustainability, and a deep sense of responsibility to the Earth. Grounded in environmental philosophy, we help people think differently, act boldly, and build a more just and sustainable future together. This work emphasizes reflective practice, ethical accountability, and long-term commitment rather than short-term solutions or symbolic gestures.
The Egret and the Phone
An egret at Spring Lake this morning was doing something I find genuinely difficult: being completel…
What We Owe the River
Ethics of Outdoor Adventure: What Do We Owe the River? The Texas Water Safari begins with a waiver. …
What the River Needs From Us Beyond Our Admiration
Standing at the San Marcos River on race day, joy and unease arrived together. That tension points t…
Why Climate Information Must Remain Public
The science behind El Niño. Just one of the articles by Climate.US. The Engaged Ecology Initiative f…
Your Internet Connection:
The internet is not weightless. Data centers consume millions of gallons of water a year, often in d…
Rethinking Our Place
Rethinking our place in the world. From human exceptionalism to ecological kinship.
Community
Outreach
Transformative environmental ethics and bio-cultural education with a focus on our embedded relationship with the environment. https://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/article/26609,professor-discusses-history-of-spring-lake-and-engaged-ecology
Sustainable Holistic Practices
Building a culture of coexistence and responsible stewardship to grow the harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world. This work emphasizes thoughtful action, sustained engagement, and accountability to both human and more-than-human communities.
Bio-cultural Conservation
Foster a global community committed to socio-ecological justice, peace, and sustainability, achieved through understanding our indigenous communities. This approach recognizes indigenous knowledge systems as vital ethical and ecological resources rather than as cultural artifacts of the past.