Professional Service

  • Ecography. Role: Handling editor. Editorial Board. 01/01/2014 - present
  • Conservation Biology. Role: Handling editor. Editorial Board. 01/08/2012 - present
  • Environmental Evidence. Role: Editor. Editorial Board. 01/2011 - present
  • Biological Conservation - Journal. Role: Editor. Editorial board. 01/01/2010 - 01/31/2019
  • Tropical Conservation Science. Role: Editor. Editorial board. 01/01/2009 - present
  • Biotropica - Journal. Role: Editor. Editorial board. 01/01/2009 - 01/01/2013
  • Endangered Species Research. Role: Editor. Editorial board. 01/01/2008 - present
  • Avian Conservation and Ecology - Journal. Role: Editor. Editorial board. 01/01/2008 - present
  • Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry. Role: Editor. Editorial board. 01/01/2007 - present
  • Open Journal of Ornithology. Role: Editor. Editorial board. 01/01/2007 - 12/31/2010
  • Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers and Thinkers ALERT. Role: Member. Member. 01/2013 - present
  • Society for Conservation Biology . Role: Membership chair. European Section, Board of Directors. 10/2004 - 10/2007
  • Harvard Journal of Undergraduate Sciences. Role: Anthropology and Biology editor. Editorial board. 01/01/1995 - 06/15/1997
  • Frontiers in Conservation and Restoration Ecology. Role: Handling editor. Editorial board member. 03/01/2021 - present
  • Frontiers in Ecology and Environment. Role: Handling editor. Editorial board member. 08/01/2019 - present
  • Turkish Journal of Zoology. Role: Handling editor. Editorial board member. 01/01/2016 - present
  • Zoology in the Middle East. Role: Handling editor. Editorial board member. 01/01/2013 - present
  • Zoology in the Middle East. Role: Handling editor. Editorial board member. 01/01/2013 - present
  • Zoology in the Middle East. Role: Handling editor. Editorial board member. 01/01/2013 - present

Internal Service

  • SBS Seminar Committee . Member, 01/01/2021 - present. Department service.
  • Alumni Relations and Development Committee. Member, 01/01/2020 - present. Department service.
  • Undergraduate Scholarship, Engagement and Research Committee. Member, 08/15/2019 - 05/15/2021. College service.
  • Honors Committee. 09/2017 - 06/2018. University service.
  • Red Butte Canyon. 09/2016 - 06/2019. University service.

Community Partnership

  • Environmental education of local youth and students on birds and bird conservation. 09/2006 - present
  • Community-based conservation in eastern Turkey. 09/2004 - present
  • Environmental education of local youth and students on biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and community-based ecotourism. 09/2004 - present
  • Environmental education of local youth and students on birds and bird conservation. 06/1999 - present

Honors & Awards

  • https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/3. Most cited scientist in Turkey in biology, ecology and ornithology., 10/19/2021
  • College of Science Award for Fostering Undergraduate Research Excellence. University of Utah, 05/19/2021
  • Creative 50 Award (one of three scientists to receive it). Media magazine of Turkey , 04/01/2021
  • TFSF Award for Conservation Photography. Turkey Photography Artists Association, 03/05/2021
  • Award for Best Environmental Documentary. Turkey Ministry of Forestry, 01/15/2021
  • Most cited scientist in Turkey in biology, ecology and ornithology. https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918. 10/16/2020
  • Elected Fellow . American Ornithological Society, 04/30/2018
  • Career & Professional Development Center, Faculty Recognition Award. 01/2018
  • Rolex Awards for Enterprise finalist (18 out of 2322 applicants). 01/2016
  • Sabancı Foundation Turkey’s Changemaker for conservation (www.farkyaratanlar.org). 01/2015
  • Ashoka Fellow for the Environment. 01/2015
  • University of Utah Inaugural Citizen Science Award. 01/2014
  • TUBITAK Special Science Award (Turkey’s highest scientific honor, given by the president). 01/2014
  • International Conservation Leadership Award for Wetland Conservation in Turkey. 01/2013
  • National Geographic Society Risk Taker . National Geographic Society, 01/2013
  • Goldman Environmental Prize finalist . 01/2013
  • Whitley Fund 20th Anniversary Special Gold Award (first double Gold Award winner). 01/2013
  • Inaugural Wetland Science Award given by the Government of Turkey . 01/2013
  • Star Turk award, Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) . Assembly of Turkish American Association, 01/2012
  • Çevre College Yeşil Küre award (Green Globe Award for Environment), Turkey . 01/2012
  • Turkey Wetland Council Wetland Conservationist Award – Individual . 01/2011
  • Turkey Wetland Council Wetland Conservationist Award – Organization (KuzeyDoğa). 01/2011
  • National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer . National Geographic Society, 01/2011
  • Essential Science Indicators most-cited 1% in Ecology/Environment in the past decade - 2010-present. 01/2010
  • Elected Turkey’s “Scientist of the Year” by MSNBC NTVBLM science magazine. 01/2010
  • Elected one of the “100 Hopes for the Future of Turkey” by Newsweek Türkiye. Newsweek Türkiye, 01/2010
  • Invited to Princess Anne’s (UK) 60th birthday for achievements in conservation biology. 01/2010
  • Elected Fellow International of the Explorers Club . 01/2009
  • Whitley Gold Award for wetland conservation and ecological research in Kars, Turkey. 01/2008
  • Official commendation for nature conservation by Abdullah Gül, the President of Turkey. 01/2008
  • Selected for inclusion in Who's Who in Science and Engineering . 01/2007
  • Junior Chamber International of Turkey award for environmental and moral leadership. 01/2003
  • Elected one of the top 100 academics of Turkey by Aktüel news magazine . Aktüel, 01/2001
  • Summa cum laude for Harvard University honors thesis . 01/1997
  • Silver medal in the fourth International Biology Olympics, Utrecht . 01/1993
  • Turkish government scientific achievement award . 01/1993

In the Media