College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Tyler Lark publications on Google Scholar

My research focuses on U.S. agricultural land-use change and its impacts on our nation’s land and water resources. I received my Ph.D. from UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute Environment & Resources program for my research on America’s changing Food and Fuel-Scapes and I continue to explore issues at the intersection of land use, bioenergy, and food production.

About me:
I'm passionate about finding solutions to the grand challenges our food and agricultural systems face and finding opportunities to reconcile agricultural production with conservation and climate goals. I'm also inspired by working with students to implement their ideas into action, particularly through mentored research projects and classes I've helped develop and teach including Consumer-Driven Sustainability, People, Land, and Food, and Local to Global Solutions to Reduce Food Waste.

My background is in engineering, and I have worked as an environmental materials researcher for a consumer products company, as well as on developing an alternative biofuel stove and associated land use strategy to promote waste utilization and reforestation, and served for 2 years as a project lead for the Madison WI chapter of Engineers Without Borders implementing clean water, energy, and irrigation projects in Haiti.

Outside of work I love spending my time outdoors camping with my wife and our toddler, hunting, or gardening with our chickens (who happen to be much better at it than I!). Having grown up on a small farm and experiencing the intersection of agriculture and conservation on a daily basis, I’m excited to be able to now work in this high-impact field with avid opportunities to influence science, policy, and practice for the betterment of the environment and those who rely on it.