I farm and work with farmers in West Africa, primarily Senegal. Farmers are the largest land stewards by area on earth, and the way we farm has perhaps the greatest impact on ecosystems of any human activity. In the Genesis narrative of creation, man is given his first vocation: to care for the land he farms (Gen 2:15). Interestingly, one of his first tasks is to name all the creatures around him (Gen 2:20). An ecological approach to farming necessarily involves continual observation and identification. I'm excited about the potential for inat to serve as an observation and identification tool that is accessible to many farmers, including those outside western academia.

I'm interested in ecological relationships, especially those that impact agricultural systems. Insect interactions are my favorite.