Ricardo Rozzi is an ecologist (B.S. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; M.S. University of Chile; Ph.D. University of Connecticut), and philosopher (MA University of Connecticut), whose research has been focused on the integration of diverse forms in which human cultures know and relate to the natural world. To incorporate the practice of environmental ethics in research, education, and biocultural conservation, he has created the methodological approach of Field Environmental Philosophy and its application in sustainable tourism, with activities such as Ecotourism with a Hand Lens.
Dr. Rozzi is Professor at the University of North Texas, and at the University of Magallanes (Chile), and is also Principal Investigator at the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) in Chile. Based in these three institutions, he is the director of the Omora Ethnobotanical Park (Chile) and the Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program (USA and Chile). He has published more than 130 articles in indexed journals, edited 27 books, and has given more than 400 presentations in Europe, Asia, United States, and Latin America. He is the editor-in-chief of the Springer book series, Ecology and Ethics, member of the board of directors of the Center for Environmental Philosophy, and represents Latin America in the International Society of Environmental Ethics. His work integrating ecology and ethics in biocultural conservation has been widely known for its originality and innovation meriting numerous national and international prizes, among those highlighted are the College of Arts and Sciences Award for Research Excellence (University of North Texas, 2014); Raanan Weitz Center Prize for Development Studies (2010); Citation for Distinguished Service to International Education (University of North Texas, 2009); Sustainable Living Prize (Fundacion Casa de la Paz, Chile 2008); the Prize for Research in Conservation Biology shared with members of IEB (BBVA Foundation, Spain 2004); and National Prize in Education and Dissemination of Science (Explora-CONICYT, Chile 2004).
He has participated in the creation of the:
- “Senda Darwin” Foundation and biological station (Chiloé, 1995)
- Omora Foundation (2000) and “Omora Ethnobotanical Park” Field Environmental Philosophy Station (Puerto Williams, 2010)
- Chilean Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Network (2008)
- Foundation of the Subantarctic Cape Horn Center (Puerto Williams, 2015)
Most recently, Dr. Rozzi and his team have been working toward the establishment an iconic world-class facility, the Sub-Antarctic Cape Horn Center for biocultural research, education, and conservation, which will be built in Puerto Williams, the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province in 2018.