Ramesh Laungani

Ramesh Laungani is an associate professor of environmental science at Marist College, with expertise in climate change, nutrient cycling, and science communication. He holds a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has dedicated his career to exploring the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, particularly the role of plants in carbon cycling and sequestration. At Marist, Laungani emphasizes hands-on learning experiences that allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, such as solutions to climate change. His research focuses on the ecological impacts of climate change mitigation strategies, carbon storage, and sustainable practices, such as the use of biochar. A passionate advocate for science communication, Laungani founded the 1000 STEM Women Project, a video library of scientist introductions designed to inspire K-12 students with diverse role models. He strongly believes that exploring scientific unknowns is not exclusively the realm of those with doctorates; it is a space whose only requirements are curiosity, fascination, and organized thinking. He wants his students to become agents of change by developing both their scientific thinking skills and science communication skills. He wants his students to feel empowered to probe unknowns with their own ideas and tackle these challenges to build a more equitable, just, and sustainable world. Prior to his position at Marist, Laungani served as an associate professor of biology at Doane University and as chair of the science department at Poly Prep Country Day School.