Tyler Nuckols

Tyler is a conservation social scientist whose decade of work across Southeast Asia and North America examines how aspects of environmental justice, such as power dynamics and structural inequalities, shape human-environment relationships. His research on human-elephant coexistence in Thailand integrates community perspectives, Indigenous knowledge systems, and novel justice frameworks to develop conflict mitigation strategies that balance ecological integrity with social equity. From smallholder farmers living near national parks to urban community groups organizing for climate adaptation, Tyler's participatory approach centers marginalized voices while challenging traditional conservation paradigms through rights-based methodologies and meaningful community empowerment. 

As an educator and practitioner, Tyler designs courses that critically examine theory and power structures in conservation while training diverse stakeholders and students in practical tools such as participatory action research, justice-driven conservation planning, and community safeguarding protocols. His current research focuses on developing restorative and transformative approaches to conservation through the use of innovative social-ecological research and community-defined indicators of success. Drawing from a strong background in the environmental sciences, political ecology, and anthropology, Tyler guides students in practicing conservation that is both ecologically effective and socially just, preparing them to navigate the ethical complexities of environmental decision-making across diverse cultural and political contexts.