Thi Mai Anh Tran

I am an environmental and natural resource scientist, science communicator, and editorial board member of Socio-Ecological Practice Research (Springer), dedicated to bridging Indigenous and Western sciences to support resilient stewardship and sustainable livelihoods. I recently completed my Ph.D. in Forest Science at Michigan Technological University, where I worked in partnership with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to examine relationships among Tribal people, forest ecosystems, and climate-related change. Supported by USDA NIFA McIntire-Stennis funding, my research integrates Indigenous knowledges, livelihood resilience, and mixed-methods approaches to inform climate adaptation and forest restoration. I am currently affiliated with Phenikaa University, continuing work on socio-ecological resilience, community-centered forest management, and bridging diverse knowledge systems in environmental decision-making.

I have collaborated with more than 700 stakeholders—including Indigenous and rural households, tree planters, forest rangers, and hunters—through projects in Vietnam, the United States, and beyond. Previously, I served as a Research Officer at Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, where I co-led pangolin conservation projects, coordinated community engagement, and secured external funding for conservation research.

My research has been published in Humanities & Social Sciences Communication, Forest Policy and Economics, Socio-Ecological Practice Research, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, and Land Use Policy, among others. I have also contributed book chapters for Cambridge University Press and De Gruyter Brill, and my science communication writings have been featured in Planet Forward, Lake Letters, The Xylom, Science & Development Newspaper, and multiple Vietnamese government publications.

As a Science Communication Fellow with the Ecological Society of America and National Park Service, I translate complex research into accessible narratives for broader publics. I have spoken at NASA headquarters (with live TV broadcast), international conferences, and been invited to present at symposia and universities across multiple countries. 

My work has been recognized through competitive fellowships and awards, including the P.E.O. Scholar Award, Afoco Landmark Scholar Award, the NASA/USAID MyCOE/SERVIR Fellowship, and the Ecological Society of America’s SEEDS Fellowship. Fluent in English and Vietnamese, I bring over a decade of experience in research, conservation, and mentorship, and I am committed to fostering inclusive, community-directed approaches to forest and climate resilience.