Biosphere 2 Science for the Future of Our Planet

Kevin Bonine, a Tucson native and Flinn Scholar, serves as Director of Education and Outreach at Biosphere 2 while holding faculty positions in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural Resources at the University of Arizona. His extensive academic background includes dual bachelor's degrees in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Economics, followed by a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Physiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At Biosphere 2, he oversees educational programs reaching 100,000 annual visitors and 10,000 K-12 students, while managing teacher professional development and research internships. His research focuses on conservation biology, particularly studying Gila monsters and canyon treefrog ecology. As an educator, he has taught numerous courses including Herpetology, Conservation Biology, and Vertebrate Physiology, earning recognition with the UArizona College of Science Distinguished Early-Career Science Teaching Award. Beyond academia, he chairs the board of trustees of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and serves on boards for Friends of Saguaro National Park and the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. His work bridges environmental stewardship with science education, emphasizing experiential learning and field research to advance understanding of Arizona's unique ecosystems