Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Rutgers University
Steven Handel is a restoration ecologist whose work focuses on improving habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in urban and coastal environments. With a scientific background in plant population ecology and plant-animal interactions, his research has helped bridge ecological science and landscape architecture, particularly in the design of urban parks, restored habitats, and resilient coastal landscapes. He has collaborated extensively with landscape architects and spoken internationally on the role of ecology in shaping healthier and more adaptive urban environments. In 2013, he was selected for the Rebuild by Design HUD competition, contributing to new strategies for protecting the New Jersey Shore. Handel is an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow of the Ecological Society of America and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also serves as Editor of Ecological Restoration. His contributions have been recognized with honorary membership in the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Theodore Sperry Award, one of the highest international honors in ecological restoration.
