Suzanne Langridge
Biology
School: Humanities and Sciences
Suzanne Langridge came to Stanford in 2012 as a Postdoctoral Scholar with the Natural Capital Project and the Center for Ocean Solutions. The Natural Capital Project is a collaborative project of Stanford University, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy and University of Minnesota with the goal of developing tools to integrate natural capital values into major resource policies and decisions. The Center for Ocean Solutions is a collaboration of Stanford University and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and works to solve major problems facing coasts and oceans and prepares leaders to take on these challenges.
Suzanne’s research aims to determine the best methods for incorporating natural capital, the benefits that people gain from nature such as coastal protection and recreational value, into climate adaptation strategies. Her research incorporates ecological and economic principles and models, spatial analysis, and communication and visualization of information for local, regional, and state decision-makers and stakeholders to achieve the best climate adaptation and mitigation solutions.
Suzanne is passionate about connecting science and policy in order to create more resilient communities locally and globally and has engaged in leadership roles in order to support this goal. As a lecturer at University of California Santa Cruz for three years, she developed and led courses for advanced undergraduate students that included animal ecology and conservation, ecosystem restoration science and policy, and insect ecology. Suzanne also founded Comercio Justo at the University of California Santa Cruz, which successfully transitioned the University to coffee and food purchasing practices that support people and the environment. She received the UCSC David Gaines Award in 2006, given for research that makes a significant contribution to the solution of an environmental problem.
She has traveled throughout the globe to conduct research on environmental issues including extended stays in Mexico, Central America, Kenya and Australia. While in Kenya, she climbed Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa at 17,0000 feet, barely avoiding elephant trampling along the way. She is also an avid Congolese and Haitian dancer and enjoys playing traditional fiddle music.