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Larsen, Matthew C.

Larsen, Matthew C.

Former Director, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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Larsen, Matthew C.

Former Director, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

As director of STRI since 2014, my top goal is to help STRI continue to facilitate the very best science in the tropics, a biodiverse region whose unique natural resources are under tremendous developmental pressure.

STRI’s facilities in Panama are currently used each year by some 1,300 visiting scientists from 50 countries around the world, including more than 800 students, interns and pre- and postdoctoral fellows. We also welcome more than 100,000 visitors per year to our four public programs sites.

I am honored to lead an institute, that for the last 100 years, has received generous support not only from our home institution, the Smithsonian, but also from the Panamanian government and people. My other top goals are to expand our contribution of high-quality science to decision-makers in Panama, and the tropics overall; to inspire young Panamanians to pursue scientific careers and to explore Panama's rich biodiverse parks and protected areas; and to enhance our collaboration with academic and other research institutions in Panama as we jointly build scientific capacity in this country and the region.

Prior to coming to STRI, I was associate director for climate and land use change at the U.S. Geological Survey, where I was responsible for USGS climate-change research, adaptation and mitigation programs as well as land-change science programs. I led a team of 750 staff involved in research, habitat monitoring, remote sensing and environmental forecasting to address the effects of climate and land-use change on natural resources.

Born and raised in Philadelphia (go Eagles!), I received my bachelor’s degree in geology from Antioch College and Ph.D. in geography from the University of Colorado-Boulder. In my research career, I worked extensively in Venezuela and Puerto Rico--where my wife is from--and am happy to be back in Latin America again.

It is a privilege and an honor to work with STRI’s dedicated and talented scientists, staff, collaborators, and students to assure that we continue to advance scientific understanding in a variety of fields in terrestrial and marine biology, archaeology, anthropology, and paleontology. This work enables us to address a Smithsonian grand challenge: understanding and sustaining a biodiverse planet.

Positions

Background And Education

Education And Training

Professional Biography

  • Matthew C. Larsen is the Director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, headquartered in Panama City, Panama. The Institute furthers the understanding of tropical nature and its importance to human welfare, trains students to conduct research in the tropics, and promotes conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. In addition to its resident scientists, the Institute’s facilities are used annually by some 1,300 visiting scientists, pre- and postdoctoral fellows and interns from academic and research institutions who come from a quarter of all nations on Earth. From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Larsen was the U.S. Geological Survey Associate Director for Climate and Land Use Change, where he led science programs focused on climate change, land use change, and a national ecological carbon sequestration assessment. Additionally, Dr. Larsen managed the Landsat satellite program and the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center. From 2005 to 2014, Dr. Larsen led U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources programs and served as Chair of the US National Committee for UNESCO International Hydrological Programme. Larsen’s 90+ publications are in the fields of natural hazards, water resources, climate change, ecosystem services, and marine geology.

Public Biography

  • As Director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, a unit of the Smithsonian Institution headquartered in Panama City, Panama, I oversee 420 employees, an annual budget of $35 million, and the institute’s research facilities throughout Panama. In addition to our resident scientists, our facilities are used annually by more than 1,400 visiting scientists, pre- and postdoctoral fellows and interns who come from academic and research institutions that are located in more than one quarter of all nations on Earth. STRI furthers the understanding of tropical nature and its importance to human welfare, trains students to conduct research in the tropics, and promotes conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems.

    From 2010 to 2014, I was the U.S. Geological Survey Associate Director for Climate and Land Use Change, where I led science programs focused on climate change, land use change, and a national ecological carbon sequestration assessment. Additionally, I managed the Landsat satellite program and the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center. Prior to 2010 I served in various scientific leadership roles at the U.S. Geological Survey, following an 18-year research career in that agency. My approximately 90 publications are in marine geology, natural hazards, water resources management, climate change, and ecosystem services.

Research And Grants

Investigator On

Publications

Selected Publications

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