To see the world through Dr. Nalini Nadkarni's eyes you have to look up -- way up. As an expert on the ecology of tropical and temperate forest canopies -- particularly the role that canopy-dwelling plants play in forests at the ecosystem level -- Nadkarni's research takes her far above ground in Washington State and in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Multidisciplinary tree activist Nadkarni is at the forefront of communicating forest canopy research results to non-scientists through collaborations with artists, physicians, sports figures, and religious leaders. In 1994, Nadkarni co-founded and became President of the International Canopy Network, a non-profit organization that fosters communication among researchers, educators, and conservationists concerned with forest canopies.