Laura Norman Leadership Award 2020

The USGS Excellence in Leadership Award in 2021 was presented to Dr. Laura M. Norman, in recognition of her efforts to connect on-the-ground practitioners, scientists, and land managers to restore watersheds, improve rangeland function, and preserve water resources in the ecosystems of southeastern Arizona. The grassroots group, called the Sky Island Restoration Cooperative (SIRC) collaboration, formed and began working and collaborating on shared projects, as the direct result of Laura’s workshop initiative, interpersonal skills, and novel research. Her recently released guest-edited special journal edition portrays a novel and necessary integration of the science and practice of restoration ecology. Dr. Norman also facilitates a local discussion group, boasting ~120 SIRC members over the past 7 years. She also mentors an interdisciplinary team that variously includes volunteers, contractors, graduate students, TERMS, PERMS, and post-docs, and motivates new and exciting research in the field of aridland restoration ecohydrology.