Ken Cordell
Southern Research Station
“I like my work and working for the Forest Service very much. My work as a scientist involves studying how people relate to the natural world and what they like to do for outdoor recreation. The science I produce is used at the highest levels of government to aid in deciding how to manage our public lands.”
“My most memorable and rewarding science experience came early in my career. It was the publication in a science journal of an article that I had written. The article was based on my dissertation research about urban forests. My research was about estimating the value of urban green spaces, including trees and forests in urban areas. It was a thrill to see my name on an article in a science publication. It was also great to get praise for my work from a person I greatly admired and respected.”
“One of my favorite science experiences is visiting wilderness areas to examine and photograph where and how people are recreating. In [one of my] photograph[s], I am canoeing in the Okefenokee Wilderness, located in southern Georgia. The Okefenokee Wilderness is unique because it is a large freshwater swamp, accessible only by boat, and it is one of the largest undeveloped natural areas in the Eastern United States.”
“It is always fun to discover a new idea or trend from a survey that we have done. Our surveys are about the importance of natural lands to people. We find that natural lands play an important role in everyone’s life. I know that natural lands are important to me!”
“One of my favorite science experiences happened when I was a young scientist. Like all scientists, I spent a lot of time reading articles in scientific journals that were written by other
scientists. The first time one of my articles was published in a scientific journal was exciting. It is really fun to finally see your name in print in a scientific journal!”
“The thing I like most about being a scientist is discovering something new. One recent discovery was how much time kids spend outdoors and what kids do when they go outdoors. Our team of scientists found some surprising new things about kids and the outdoors.”
“One of my favorite research experience was conducting a national survey of recreationists from all across the United States. I learned much from this survey about the diversity of activities people
enjoy outdoors.”
Print my Collector Card!
Free by Mail Order a Free Pack of Scientist Cards
Featured from Natural Inquirer
-
NSI: Nature Science Investigator (NSI) is a self-guided outdoor activity book for children ages 8-14. The booklet enables each student to become the scientist! There are 11 different types of...NSI: Nature Science Investigator
NSI: Nature Science Investigator (NSI) is a self-guided outdoor activity book for children ages 8-14. The booklet enables each student to become the scientist! There are 11 different types of... -
NSI: Nature Science Investigator (NSI) is a self-guided outdoor activity book for children ages 8-14. The booklet enables each student to become the scientist! There are 11 different types of...NSI: Nature Science Investigator – Spanish
NSI: Nature Science Investigator (NSI) is a self-guided outdoor activity book for children ages 8-14. The booklet enables each student to become the scientist! There are 11 different types of... -
The scientists in this study wanted to answer two questions: (1) How many people in the United States are projected to participate in four backcountry and wilderness activities in 2060...Pack to Back: Investigating Backpacking and Other Backcountry and Wilderness Activities
The scientists in this study wanted to answer two questions: (1) How many people in the United States are projected to participate in four backcountry and wilderness activities in 2060... -
Some scientists believe that spending any amount of time outdoors is good for kids, and certain activities may provide more benefits than others. Studies have shown that outdoor physical activities...Time Out! How Much Time Do Kids Spend Outdoors?
Some scientists believe that spending any amount of time outdoors is good for kids, and certain activities may provide more benefits than others. Studies have shown that outdoor physical activities... -
In 1964, Congress passed a law that established the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). This law identified areas of Federal land to be protected as much as possible from human...Can You Hear Me Now? Using the Telephone to Discover People’s Opinions About Wilderness
In 1964, Congress passed a law that established the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). This law identified areas of Federal land to be protected as much as possible from human... -
When a society decides to set aside areas of land as wilderness, it makes a choice about the value of those lands. In the United States, people have decided that...Speak-o-logical: Defining and Measuring the Ecological Value of Wilderness
When a society decides to set aside areas of land as wilderness, it makes a choice about the value of those lands. In the United States, people have decided that... -
One of the ways that social scientists determine how much benefit people receive from something is to find out how much they would be willing to pay for it. In...Wilderness Makes Cents! How Much Are People Willing To Pay for Wilderness?
One of the ways that social scientists determine how much benefit people receive from something is to find out how much they would be willing to pay for it. In... -
The scientists in this study were interested in knowing whether the benefits provided by trees are valued by people buying a new house. They also wanted to know how much...Yard Sale! How Trees Affect the Selling Price of Houses
The scientists in this study were interested in knowing whether the benefits provided by trees are valued by people buying a new house. They also wanted to know how much... -
Do you know anyone who has gone snow skiing or snowboarding in the past year? Over the past 30 years, outdoor activities like skiing have been growing in popularity, with...Slip Sliding Away: Who Goes Skiing and Snowboarding in America? (Spanish)
Do you know anyone who has gone snow skiing or snowboarding in the past year? Over the past 30 years, outdoor activities like skiing have been growing in popularity, with... -
Do you know anyone who has gone snow skiing or snowboarding in the past year? Over the past 30 years, outdoor activities like skiing have been growing in popularity, with...Slip Sliding Away: Who Goes Skiing and Snowboarding in America?
Do you know anyone who has gone snow skiing or snowboarding in the past year? Over the past 30 years, outdoor activities like skiing have been growing in popularity, with...
Additional Resources
-
USDA Forest Service: Ken Cordell
Learn more about Ken Cordell's research at his Forest Service profile page.Visit Profile