Devon Gaydos
Ecologist. Participatory Modeler. Tree Enthusiast.
Invasive pests and pathogens fundamentally diminish the health and functioning of our valuable forest resources. My work combines spatiotemporal projections of disease spread with participatory modeling methods to analyze management strategies and engage key stakeholders battling invasive pests and pathogens.
Bio
I'm currently a Ph.D. candidate at North Carolina State University in the Center for Geospatial Analytics. My doctoral work focuses on the landscape epidemiology of sudden oak death disease in California and Oregon. Introduced in the mid-1990's, sudden oak death has already killed around 50 millions oaks and tanoaks along the west coast, precipitating widespread ecological and economic consequences. Developing viable management strategies requires tools that can help stakeholders collaboratively explore management scenarios. My work uses interdisciplinary methods to combine simulations of disease spread, geospatial analytics, and participatory modeling to engage decision-makers combating sudden oak death and other invasive pests and pathogens. In my free time, my hobbies include nature photography, painting, and hiking with my dog, Sagan.
Research Highlights
Forecasting and Control of Emerging Infectious Disease through Participatory Modelling
How can co-developing plant disease models with stakeholders benefit both researchers and stakeholders? Check out my latest article in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.
Unique Method for Stakeholder Input Informs Co-Produced Model of Sudden Oak Death Transmission
Learn more about my work with Tangible Landscape and stakeholders in Oregon.
Center for Geospatial Analytics Forum Presentation
I recently presented a quick overview of my research at the NC State Geospatial Forum. Check out the link below starting at 27 minutes to see the talk.
Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Fellowship
Every year, the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center hosts the Global Change Fellowship Program to bring graduate students from different disciplines together to tackle pressing global change issues. I was fortunate enough to be one of the 2018 cohort.
Getting In Touch To Stop An Epidemic
Simulations of disease spread can be helpful for testing out different management scenarios, but are often inaccessible for stakeholders. We held a workshop with sudden oak death diseases experts in Oregon to demonstrate a new decision support tool called Tangible Landscape. With this system, users can interact with a complex simulation model by touching something, opening up the power of these models to everyone.
In the Battle Against A Spreading Forest Disease, Strategy Matters
A story about our 2nd participatory modeling workshop in Oregon where we engaged over 30 stakeholders using two-interactive disease modeling interfaces.
Fieldwork Photo Gallery
Get in Touch
3120 Jordan Hall,
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695