ABOUT LAUREN
Dr. Lauren D. Pharr is an avian behavioral ecologist and award-winning science communicator whose work bridges bird behavior, conservation, and inclusion in the outdoors. She holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University and co-founded Field Inclusive, a nonprofit supporting marginalized voices in fieldwork and nature. Lauren’s writing has appeared in National Geographic, WIRED, PBS SciNC, and The Nature Conservancy’s Cool Green Science blog. Her leadership and outreach have earned her multiple honors, including the 2023 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award for Young Conservationist of the Year from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.
News
It Takes a Village: What Birds Teach Us About Cooperation and Family
In most bird species, a pair of adults raises their own young and then move on. But in about 9% of bird species worldwide, families take a more collective approach.
Read More
Meet the Fall 2025 Student Commencement Speakers
Julianna Welch and Lauren Pharr share how their experiences at the College of Natural Resources shaped their paths.
Read More
TNC Cool Green Science Blog: Family, Survival and Change: The Secret Life of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Lauren Pharr uncovers how family bonds and teamwork help Red-cockaded woodpeckers thrive in longleaf pine forests, even as climate change reshapes their world.
Read More
As Featured in
Connecting Science, Conservation, and Belonging in the Outdoors
Research
My research examines how social behavior and group dynamics shape reproductive success in cooperatively breeding birds, with applications for avian conservation and management.
Learn More
Outreach
My outreach focuses on making ornithology and conservation accessible to all communities through storytelling, education, and inclusive engagement.
Learn More
Inclusion
My upcoming book, Inclusive Nature explores equity, access, and belonging in the natural sciences and outdoor spaces—bringing together stories, research, and lived experiences to imagine a more inclusive future for the field.
Learn More