The NAU Review — Measuring biodiversity, Humans of NAU with a former track athlete and giving back this Giving Tuesday

 Nov. 28, 2023

Diverse ecosystems support the web of life and in the process, provide food, water, medicine and materials for humanity. But the butterfly effect tells us all things are connected. So, when biodiversity loss threatens the foundation upon which we live, what does that mean for the future of Earth and humanity? NAU research professor Chris Hakkenberg is taking a necessary step to finding a solution to biodiversity loss: mapping and measuring biodiversity across the U.S. using NASA’s space-borne lidar.

Matt Baxter, a 2018 graduate and part of NAU’s cross country dynasty, co-authored Running Up the Mountain, released this fall, with former Lumberjack athlete and coach Ron Mann. He talks to The NAU Review about the book, his experiences as a Lumberjack and his life since graduating.

On this day of global generosity, donate to NAU’s Lumberjack Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF), a resource that helps students overcome obstacles that may otherwise derail their education. The grants may cover expenses such as textbooks, car repairs or emergency hotel stays.