Karen Bakker -

: She led the Smart Earth Project , investigating how AI, satellites, and sensors could be used to address climate change and biodiversity loss, a concept she referred to as "wiring Gaia".

: A founding co-director of UBC’s Program on Water Governance , she was a fierce advocate for water security, Indigenous water sovereignty, and human rights. Notable Works Karen Bakker (1971-2023) - Department of Geography karen bakker

Dr. Karen Bakker (1971–2023) was a transformative Canadian geographer, author, and researcher whose work bridged the gap between technology and the natural world. As a Professor of Geography at the and a Rhodes Scholar, she became a global authority on water governance, digital environmentalism, and the "Smart Earth" movement. Key Contributions and Research : She led the Smart Earth Project ,

: In her highly acclaimed 2022 book, The Sounds of Life , she explored how digital technologies like AI and bioacoustics act as "digital hearing aids," allowing humans to decode the sounds of animals—from the complex conversations of honeybees to the ultrasonic speech of baby bats. Bakker's career was marked by shifting paradigms in

Bakker's career was marked by shifting paradigms in how we interact with the planet: