Daniel B. Botkin

Daniel Botkin is a scientist who studies life from a planetary perspective, a biologist who has helped solve major environmental issues, and a writer about nature. Well-known for his scientific contributions in ecology and environment, he has also worked as a professional journalist and has degrees in physics, biology, and literature. A Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Daniel's books and lectures show how our cultural legacy often dominates what we believe to be scientific solutions.

In addition to his career as an ecologist, Dr. Botkin has maintained a lifelong interest in folklore and folkmusic, serving on the board of directors of the Folklife Center of the Library of Congress from 2004 to 2010. “There is a connection,” Botkin explains of the seemingly disparate worlds. “For starters, a lot of what is said about nature is folklore, not science.”