Mark Burgman

Research interests

My research focuses on conservation biology in all its forms, risk analysis, and expert judgement and decision-making. We explore the development and deployment of tools, procedures, and guidelines to reach better conservation decisions. Current projects deal with the widening of social inclusion in environmental decision making, and improving methods for the assessment of threatened species and ecosystems. New projects deal with testing methods for eliciting judgements from experts, and developing and testing indices to guide investments that result in nature-positive outcomes.

Statement of Core Values 

I am sharing my personal perspective on the School’s values and aspirations. No statement can encompass all perspectives. However, I hope this reflects our shared values and aspirations well enough. 

The School of Life Sciences is committed to fostering an environment of openness, respect, and mutual support where all members of our community, current and future, can flourish. We ground this, our kuleana, within our larger community of diverse people, cultures, and ecosystems of Hawaiʻi. We recognize that fulfilling our kuleana is a work in progress, guided by our mission statement and the input of our students, staff, faculty, and broader community. Similarly, we realize the values put forth in this statement are also a work in progress. We choose to include ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi as an aspiration to more deeply root our work in Hawaiʻi and to respect our home here and the kānaka maoli, ʻōiwi world views, and leo Hawaiʻi born of this place and shaping it in return. 

Our kuleana includes dedicating ourselves to advancing UH Mānoa as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning. It includes producing excellent teaching and research that is relevant to the diverse communities of Hawaiʻi. In our pursuit of insight and learning in the Life Sciences, we are also guided by the principles of aloha ʻāina, pilina, and mālama kekahi i kekahi. Our kuleana requires inclusivity and diversity within our academic community.  Our academic community does not yet fully reflect the diverse demographics and lived experiences of people in Hawaiʻi and the USA.  Thus, our kuleana includes rising to the challenge of identifying and implementing improvements to our teaching, mentoring, research, and outreach to create a more inclusive environment. 

Our kuleana requires free speech and critical thinking. We dedicate ourselves to producing, sharing, honoring, and preserving knowledge for the benefit of Hawaiʻi and the global community. We welcome all who wish to join in this kuleana.

Mark Burgman, Director, School of Life Sciences