Chris Field

Chris (he/him) is an Analyst in Natural Resources Policy with the Congressional Research Service. He has worked at the interface of science and policy for over 15 years as a practitioner, researcher, and educator. Before joining the legislative branch, he developed an interdisciplinary research program on the socio-ecological dimensions of conservation for his PhD dissertation at University of Connecticut and as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC). Much of his research focused on coastal issues, especially in Long Island Sound, and the development of quantitative tools for decision-making. His research was often centered on a small songbird with outsized policy implications, the Saltmarsh Sparrow. Before getting his PhD, he coordinated a science-based conservation program for a national non-profit, which set him on the path toward generating actionable research. He is also passionate about effective science communication to diverse audiences – especially non-specialists – whether through writing, speaking, or visualizations.