Ruth DeFries

Professor of ecology and sustainable development at Columbia University

Ruth DeFries is a professor of ecology and sustainable development at Columbia University in New York. She uses satellite imagery and field surveys to examine how humanity’s demands for food and other resources are affecting climate, biodiversity and other ecosystem services. She is committed to linking science with policy and public communication, most recently through her book "The Big Ratchet: How Humanity Thrives in the Face of Natural Crisis."