Cons Sci Seminar

October 2, 2026

12:00-1:00pm

In person (preferred): 335 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul Campus

Remote: https://umn.zoom.us/j/91715591077

From Vision to Impact: The Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Dr. Olivia LeDee

Regional Administrator, USGS Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Abstract

This talk will provide an overview of the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center’s progress, since its establishment by Congress in 2019, and its growing role in advancing climate science across the region. Participants will hear how the U.S. Geological Survey worked with regional partners to develop a shared science strategy and establish a partnership with the University of Minnesota and a consortium of research institutions.

The presentation will highlight the Center’s portfolio of 48 projects—representing more than $15 million in investments—that address major climate threats and inform adaptation decisions. It will also describe how engagement with more than 100 organizations and hundreds of researchers is connecting science to management on federal, state, and Tribal lands. Finally, the presentation will conclude with ways to engage with the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, including funding opportunities, fellowship programs, training and workshops, and community events.

Biosketch

Olivia LeDee completed a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota. Since then, she has worked for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and in 2016, joined USGS as the Deputy Director of the Northeast Climate Science Center. She currently serves as the Regional Administrator of the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center where she provides leadership in science planning, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement. In these roles, she has developed climate policy, led complex public engagement efforts, launched initiatives to cultivate the next generation of climate scientists, and fostered collaborations on nature-based solutions.