Kenneth Broad
Professor

Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Policy - Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, Earth Science
Dr. Kenneth Broad is Director of the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy and Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at UM's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Additionally, he holds a joint appointment at Columbia University, where he serves as Co-Director of the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions.
Kenny received his Ph.D.in anthropology from Columbia University in 1999. Dr. Broad has directed major interdisciplinary efforts to study diverse aspects of human and environmental interaction, including climate impacts and human perception, the use and misuse of scientific information, and decision making under uncertainty. He has participated in extreme scientific and filmmaking expeditions on every continent - from studying cocaine distribution patterns to venomous snakes to the deepest caves on the planet - to gather information and samples that shed light on little known environmental and cultural subjects. He regularly collaborates with ecologists, climatologists, hydrologists, psychologists, and a host of other strange -ologists.
Kenny, along with the late Wes Skiles, was awarded the 2011 National Geographic Explorer of the Year for their work in the underwater caves of The Bahamas, which appeared as a cover story in National Geographic Magazine. Broad also received the National Geographic 2006 Emerging Explorer Award and was elected a Fellow National of the Explorers Club in 2009. Kenny is a member of the National Geographic Society Expedition Council Advisory Board and is on the board of advisors for several nonprofit organizations.
Education
1989 | B.A. Literature, University of California |
1992 | M.A. Marine Affairs, University of Miami |
1999 | Ph.D. Anthropology, Columbia University |
Honors & Acknowledgements
Honors & Awards
University of California at Santa Barbara, College of Creative Studies - Graduation Commencement Speaker, 2019
University of California at Santa Barbara, College of Creative Studies 50th Anniversary Honorary Council, 2017-2018
Distinguished Visiting Fellow, University of California at Santa Barbra, January 2017
National Geographic Society, Explorer of the Year, 2011
The Explorers Club, Fellow National, 2008-present
Florida Trend Magazine, Trendsetters: Today and Beyond Award, 2008
National Geographic Society, Emerging Explorer Award, 2006 (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/emerging/kbroad.html)
Ransom Everglades, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2006
Mexican Academy of Sciences, Distinguished Professor Visitors Program, 2004-2005.
Teachers College, Columbia University Gardner Cowles Fellow in Applied Anthropology, 1996-1997.
Columbia University, Global Systems Initiative Training Grant, 1995-1996.
Columbia University, Teachers College General Scholarship, 1993-1995.
Our World-Underwater Associate Scholar Award, 1992-93.
National Speleological Society Abe Davis Safe Cave Diving Award, 1992.
National Association for Cave Diving Bronze Wakulla Award, 1992.
Admirals of the Fleet of Florida Scholarship, 1991.
Memberships
Certification, licensure
United States Coast Guard 25-ton Licensed Captain (200-ton inactive status)
Certified --U.S. / FAA Helicopter Pilot: Commercial & Instrument Ratings: R22, R44, R66, Airbus H125 (AS B3e)
Certified--State of Florida Emergency Medical Technician (inactive status)
Certified--National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Technology - Diver Medical Technician (inactive status)
Certified--National Speleological Society/Cave Diving Section (NSS/CDS)
Certified--NSS/CDS Recovery Specialist
Certified--National Association for Cave Divers
Certified--Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques Commission Speleologie (2 Star Speleology Diver)
Certified--NOAA Working Diver
Certified-IANTD Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver (Cis-Lunar, Megalodon, K.I.S.S. Sidekick)
Certified--International Association of Nitrox Divers (IAND) TRIMIX Diver
Certified—PADI Master Freediver
Instructor--IAND Technical Nitrox Instructor (inactive)
Instructor--American Nitrox Divers (inactive)
Instructor--Professional Association of Dive Instructors (inactive)