I'm a community and landscape ecologist with particular interest in the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in managed landscapes. Much of this interest stems from a desire to understands how ecology can better be used as a tool for sustainable development - can we "bio-engineer" managed landscapes to meet the dual needs of ensuring food security and conservation of biodiversity? Can we really discuss reaching one of these goals without directly dealing with the other? I'm currently based at CATIE in Costa Rica, and have an adjunct appointment with Tropical Agriculture Programs at the Earth Institute of Colombia University.