Thomas Gillespie

Tom Gillespie is a professor of geography and an expert on biodiversity whose research focuses on conservation and protection of endangered forests and species, primarily by using remote sensing via satellites to determine biodiversity to influence global conservation priorities.

In his work to save what many have called the world’s most endangered forests, Gillespie has surveyed the tropical dry forests in such biodiverse hotspots as Hawaii, Sundaland, Indo-Burma, New Caledonia and the Caribbean, using satellites. His research has yielded valuable information on global conservation priorities, the management of natural resources and tropical ecology. By using remote-sensing data, he hopes to predict how species spread or the probability of extinction in these fragile environments.