Martha Mather, PhD

Martha leads a creative and productive program of integrated research, education, and outreach-extension-service that addresses basic aquatic ecology questions in order to solve applied conservation problems. Specifically, Martha is interested in problems related to the following:(a) Basic ecological processes that structure freshwater (river, reservoir, lake) and estuarine fish communities; (b) Patterns, mechanisms, consequences of fish movements; (c) Role of heterogeneity in ecological structure and function across scales (including the role of dams); (d) Integrated, interdisciplinary, bio-social approaches to sustainability; (e) Translating basic science to effective natural resource conservation and fisheries decision-making; (f) Human and climate impacts on aquatic ecosystems; (g) New paradigms for linking spatial and temporal scales; (h) Science communication that integrates traditional outreach and innovative approaches; and (i) Transformative approaches to resource conservation and environmental sustainability. 

As a Ph.D student, Martha taught lab sections in zoology, ecology, and behavior. As a new Ph.D, Martha was completely responsible for two field ecology classes at Ohio State University’s Stone Lab on Lake Erie and at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station. At University of Massachusetts, Amherst, she was solely responsible for one graduate course in fish ecology and one graduate course in experimental design using examples from the literature. At UMASS, she also cotaught two other graduate seminars, one on natural resource conflicts and one on anadromous fish. Martha has guest lectured at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and other universities on philosophy of science, aquatic community structure, invaders in freshwater systems, restoration of the Atlantic salmon to the Connecticut River, natural resource conflicts, the role of biophysical science in natural resource conflicts, dam removal, ecological restoration in coastal systems, and relationships between the built and natural environment. At Kansas State University, she team-teaches a course called "Professional Skills" required of all incoming graduate students. She also team-teaches a graduate seminar entitled "River Regimes."

Martha was trained in fish ecology at Ohio State University where she obtained her Ph.D.  Her job experience in the Unit program includes the Massachusetts and Kansas Units.