Sarah Parsons

Biography

My passion is in the space where bugs and plants meet. I am an entomologist with a background in sustainable agriculture and sustainable landscape design. My current research looks at how to build better cities through an entomological lens. More specifically, I explore how urban land uses and zoning affect insect biomass and diversity within cities. My research will inform city planners how to build cities, so that we conserve insect diversity at large. I delight in teaching students about the wonders of the natural world, and I have a special interest in interdisciplinary approaches. I hope to bring all my varied career experiences into the classroom to help students learn about ecology and the nature around them.

Education

• Ph D, North Carolina State University at Raleigh
• MS, Duke University
• BA, Emory University

Teaching Interests

My goal as a teacher is two-fold: 1) to inspire in students a contagious enthusiasm about the natural world and 2) to help students see themselves as valuable world citizens. Current courses I teach include: ES 150 (Introduction and Approaches to Environmental Science) and ES 495 (Environmental Science Senior Seminar & Capstone).

Research Interests

My research largely focuses in urban spaces, in the places where insects, plants, and humans interact. My current research explores how we can plan and design cities to optimize insect conservation. More specifically, I explore how urban land uses and zoning affect insect biomass and diversity within cities. My research will inform city planners how to build cities, so that we conserve insect diversity at large. My past work has explored how landscape design can be used as a tool to mitigate the negative effects of pests on urban trees and landscapes in a warming climate.