Margaret A. Palmer

Dr. Margaret A. Palmer is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is also the Director of the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), which brings together the science of the natural world with the science of social systems and decision making to solve problems at the human-environment interface. She helped establish SESYNC with an award of more than $50 million from the National Science Foundation and a vision of innovative international programs.

With a background in hydrology and ecology, Palmer contributes to testing and extending fundamental theory and empirical findings on aquatic ecosystem dynamics. She has worked extensively on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem processes, the biogeochemistry of streams and wetlands, and organism dispersal in aquatic ecosystems. She is an international expert on the restoration of streams and rivers and co-author of the book Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Margaret is also known for her work at the interface of water science and policy, having served as a technical advisor and innovator to help build solution-focused teams that solve problems with social, legal, policy and scientific aspects. She is extensively published (Google Scholar), has numerous awards, and remains actively engaged in science matters associated with national and local water policies and actions—particularly those associated with the Appalachians.

Palmer's received her PhD in Coastal Oceanography from the University of South Carolina.