Dr. Oswald Schmitz is the Oastler Professor of Population and Community Ecology at the Yale School of the Environment and a leading global expert on biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. His research focuses on how species interactions influence carbon dynamics and ecosystem function, particularly in the context of climate change.
e visionary behind the “Animating the Carbon Cycle” initiative, which demonstrates how rewilding and restoring keystone species can significantly amplify carbon sequestration across ecosystems. His work has become foundational to global nature-based climate solutions.
At Yale, he directs the Schmitz Lab, where his team investigates the role of biodiversity in sustaining ecological processes. A prolific scholar and public thought leader, Schmitz’s research is shaping international conservation strategies that link biodiversity conservation with climate stability and human well-being.