Lila

Lila Thompson, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Research Professor in Environmental Sustainability at the Department of Ecology and Conservation, University of California, Berkeley, and the California Nature Conservancy.

After an internship at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, Lila graduated with honors in environmental science from the University of California. Her master's degree focused on Ecological Restoration, emphasizing sustainable development. She earned her Ph.D. in 2010 under the guidance of Prof. Jane Goodall. During the final months of her doctoral studies, she worked alongside Prof. Mark Davis at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment in Palo Alto, California.

In 2022, Lila was appointed as a full professor under the prestigious University Research Fellowship program at UC Berkeley. She has contributed over 200 articles to peer-reviewed journals, including groundbreaking research on climate resilience published in Science and the first study on urban green spaces' impact on mental health featured in The Lancet Planetary Health. Through her work, Lila has observed that many communities can thrive sustainably when given the right tools and knowledge. This realization has led her to expand her scope into community-based conservation efforts.

Lila leads and mentors various projects aimed at understanding how ecological practices can foster resilient ecosystems and promote human well-being. She envisions a future where environmental policies not only address crises but also enhance the quality of life for all inhabitants. With this positive outlook, she advocates for a shift in public policy towards nurturing healthy environments that support thriving communities.