Murat Atasoy

I am passionate Environmental Studies professor with an insatiable curiosity for the natural ecosystems, who was born in the lovely capital city of Turkiye, Ankara. My passion for nature and sustainable living was ignited early on. This path has brought me to explore and study the unraveling complexities of environment and nurturing a sustainable green future. As a lifelong and joyful journey of growth, learning and experience, I pursued a Master’s Degree in the field of Forestry by conducting research on the evaluation of the spread of invasive species and their relationship with urbanization in the Southeastern United States at Auburn University. Then, I earned my Ph.D. degree in Forestry focusing on the prescribed fire management of Longleaf Pine forests and its impacts on the landscape metrics. After graduating, I worked as an Associate Professor in Turkiye in the department of Environmental Sciences. To conduct my post-doctoral research studies in Alabama, I continued my education journey in the field of Geosciences at Auburn University by collaborating with scientists from NASA, USDA, and NSF and gaining relevant technical skills in testing and monitoring consequences of degradation of natural lands due to driving factors such as anthropogenic disturbance and climate resiliency while providing an understanding of environmental justice in collaboration with minorities by the many benefits of public green spaces. After earning my post-doctoral degree, I started working as an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of the Ozarks.

My current research contributions include the use in depth quantitative methods such as artificial intelligence and survey of focus groups to understand the community needs along with rigorous quantitative digital modeling methods utilizing survey research and geospatial analysis of remote sensing data. These methods reveal the underlying contributors towards urbanization and forest cover degradation and how those impact urban heat islands, climate change and resiliency, distribution of natural resources, public policies, public perception, environmental law and justice, and community engagement in urban/rural forested landscapes.

Special Projects / Initiatives

I am currently conducting research with my students about the “Inadequate Waste Management and its Environmental Impacts on the Bahamas” and “California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Growth Rate in Varying Soil and Environmental Conditions”. I teach Environmental Studies courses in the Wilson Science Center and have an Environmental Science Laboratory. These teaching focuses intensely on organizing my lectures student-oriented, providing the most relevant examples, and working hard to expose the clearest path for students to understand the Environmental Issues and Sustainable Management of Ecosystems. Beyond teaching and mentoring, I actively engages in research projects, collaborating with environmental agencies and forest management organizations to address pressing global challenges, such as deforestation, environmental pollution and climate change.