Jennifer Blesh is a post-doctoral researcher in agronomy at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. She earned her Ph.D. in soil and crop sciences and a master of science degree in soil science, both from Cornell University. She also has a bachelor of science degree in ecology from the University of Geogia.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 4; 4-5 p.m.
Where: Room 1040, Dana Building

Following her talk, there will be a half-hour question-and-answer session.

About Jennifer Blesh's research:
Through her work, she seeks to increase scientific understanding of the potential for agroecological management to improve the sustainability of food production. She uses interdisciplinary and mixed-methods research approaches to measure and assess environmental, agricultural and social outcomes of a diverse range of agri-food systems.

She draws on theories and methods from disciplines such as agroecology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem ecology, soil science, rural sociology and political ecology to conduct agroecological research that is situated in the contemporary sociopolitical context. Her current work is in the ecologically-important Cerrado region of central-western Brazil, where she is investigating environmental and social outcomes of agricultural management practices on smallholder agrarian reform settlements. Practicing interdisciplinary, thinking systemically, and integrating multiple perspectives are all fundamental components of her scholarship.

More lecture details: snre.umich.edu/events
Read her CV
Visit her website