Tyler Nuckols (they/he)

I am a researcher specializing in human-wildlife interactions, focusing on the intersection of conservation efforts and human well-being. My doctoral dissertation at the University of Colorado Boulder, "The Elephant’s Footprint: Navigating Environmental Justice, Resilience, and Vulnerability in Human-Wildlife Conflict," explores the challenges and opportunities presented by farmers and elephants sharing agroecosystems in Southern Thailand.

This pioneering work integrates environmental justice and resilience theory to develop a novel "complex vulnerability" approach to human-wildlife conflict mitigation and adaptation. Through comprehensive research encompassing community-led adaptive strategies and in-depth analysis of social, economic, and ecological dynamics, I aim to foster transformative coexistence between human communities and wildlife.

My research addresses both immediate conflicts and their underlying causes, contributing to a more just and sustainable framework for conservation that benefits both human and non-human communities. This work provides actionable insights for the local community in Thailand and offers a scalable model adaptable to other regions facing similar challenges.

I hold a BS in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M University and an MS in Global Environmental Leadership from Colorado State University (Salerno Lab). With nearly a decade of experience in conservation and environmental advocacy, I am also an accomplished community organizer and communicator.

Committed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and anti-racism, my work spans both conservation efforts and academic research, emphasizing systemic change in these fields. I also provide consultation support in communications, digital organizing, and graphic/web design, specializing in grassroots engagement, campaign capacity building, visual storytelling, and outreach.

Through my academic and fieldwork, I am dedicated to enhancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between human societies and wildlife, aiming to influence policy and practice in conservation and human-wildlife interactions globally.