The Human Footprint and the Path to Coexistence with Biodiversity

Christopher O’Bryan leads the Planetary Health Lab, studying how our actions reshape the natural world, how people and wildlife coexist, and how nature supports human well-being. In this lecture, he takes us inside his research—from mapping the impacts of the global human footprint to uncovering the unique benefits biodiversity provides—and shows how we can create futures where both people and nature can thrive.

Christopher O’Bryan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Planetary Health within the System Earth Science Research Institute, UM