• Home
  • About Dan
  • Books by Daniel Botkin
    • Signed Books
  • Reflections & Opinions
    • Renegade Naturalist Radio
  • Research
  • Dan Botkin’s Newsletter
    • Manage Your Account
  • Speaking & Consulting

Daniel B. Botkin

Solving environmental problems by understanding how nature works

  • People & Nature
  • Climate, Energy & Biodiversity
  • Myths, Folklore & Science

Environmental Scientist of the Year

June 3, 2019 By Daniel Botkin Leave a Comment

Daniel Botkin billboard

Dr. Daniel B. Botkin, is a Professor Emeritus of Biology for UC Santa Barbara, previous Faculty for Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Former Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami, and former Chairman for the University of California’s Environmental Studies Program. He has just recently been selected as Top Environmental Scientist of the Year … [Read more...]

Polar bears are still claimed to be endangered: Are they? Fact and fantasy

January 16, 2017 By Daniel Botkin Leave a Comment

Polar Bears

Get ready for International Polar Bear Day. The N Y Times reported last December 20th that the conservation organization Polar Bears International, has so designated this February 27.The debate over whether polar bears are an endangered species continues since it was made into a major environmental issue in the United States by Al Gore's 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth. … [Read more...]

25 Myths that are Destroying the Environment: My New Book

October 17, 2016 By Daniel Botkin 2 Comments

Just Published! For decades, environmental scientist and conservationist Daniel B. Botkin has studied the world around us. He has traveled the globe observing nature and the human impact on the environment, and now he has collected his keen observations into this accessible and informative book.25 Myths That Are Destroying the Environment explores the many myths … [Read more...]

How Many Hours Does a Whale Sleep? Folklore Determines “Science”

July 24, 2015 By Daniel Botkin Leave a Comment

Beluga Whale

Excerpt from Strange Encounters: Adventures of a Renegade Naturalist by Daniel B. Botkin.How many hours does a whale sleep?" I asked into the telephone receiver. If anybody could have seen my red face, he would have known how embarrassed I felt asking this question. I was working as a research scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, … [Read more...]

Newsletter April 15, 2014

April 14, 2014 By Daniel Botkin Leave a Comment

Hello Readers,I've started a new Video Newsletter, which I thought you might interest you.  This is an outgrowth of a print-only newsletter I wrote for several years and then took a break.  In these new video issues, I will discuss a wide variety of topics: science, music, poetry, and art as they form a context for life in our time and especially what we believe to be … [Read more...]

Daniel B. Botkin Professional Experience

April 3, 2014 By Daniel Botkin Leave a Comment

Adjunct Professor of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, and  Professor (Emeritus), Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara.The New York Times has called him "one of the world's leading environmental researchers," who has "done much to popularize the concept of using yet maintaining the world's natural … [Read more...]

New Speech Topic: The Future of Our National Parks: How Should They Fit into the 21st Century?

February 11, 2014 By Daniel Botkin Leave a Comment

2016 will be the centennial of the National Park Service and it faces many challenges, which I will discuss and make recommendations.  These include: appealing to America’s ever more diverse population; conservation of biodiversity as the environment changes; invasive species; introduction of endangered species; the role of the parks in responses to climate change; the use of … [Read more...]

Is it People Versus Nature or People Within Nature?

January 4, 2014 By Daniel Botkin Leave a Comment

Among the many stories that have come out of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition that got stuck in the ice, is this quote: “It's fantastic—I love it when the ice wins and we don't," marine ecologist Tracy Rogers told the BBC journalist onboard, adding: "It reminds you that as humans, we don't control everything and that the natural world—it's the winner here." It’s an … [Read more...]

« Previous Page
Next Page »

From Daniel B. Botkin, Ph.D

Daniel Botkin
I believe we are mostly on the wrong track in the way we try to deal with the environment. Everything I do, study, learn, and advise about the environment is different from the status quo. Throughout my career, I have tried to understand how nature works and use that understanding to figure out how we can solve our most pressing environmental problems.

My process over the past 45 years has been to look carefully at the facts, make simple calculations from them (sometimes simple computer models) and then tell people what I have learned. It’s surprising how rarely people bother to look at the facts. This has surprised me every time I’ve started a new ecology research project or work on an environmental issue.

In the course of my work and studies, I have learned many things and I want to tell you about them. That is the purpose of this website.

Follow @danielbotkin

Books by Dan Botkin

The Moon in the Nautilus Shell  Strange Encounters
Powering the Future  No Man's Garden
See all books by Dan Botkin

Jabowa III Forest Model


Jabowa Forest Model
Jabowa Forest Model for Windows 7.
This forest model, used around the world, was developed first in 1970 by Daniel B. Botkin, James F. Janak and James R. Wallis

JABOWA remains the most completely detailed and well validated forest growth model available, accounting for 95% or more of the variation in real forests where it has been tested.

The book Forest Dynamics: An Ecological Model (available as an eBook) provides a complete description of the model and the rationales behind its development.

Order Online

Sea Ice Study

The Bockstoce and Botkin Historical Sea Ice Data Study has a new home at the University of Alaska website. The data include more than 52,000 daily observations in an unbroken 65 year record from 1849 – 1914.

See related papers

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2006–2023 Daniel B. Botkin · Site by Webdancers · Log in