Elizabeth Sanna Barron

About

My research is at the intersection of the politics of knowledge and governance to address conservation, resource management, and sustainability initiatives. My research contributes to the fields of political ecology and conservation social science, biodiversity and resource management, diverse and community economies, just sustainabilities and place studies, and critical physical geography.

Through three of my current projects (EMBAST, Arctic Auditories, Mission Mjøsa) I am further developing the concept of emplacement and emplaced sustainability. During academic year 2025-2026 I am on sabbatical to write a book on emplacement, under contract with Nature Springer Press.

Since my dissertation work on fungal conservation, I have also been interested in how fungi and the people who care for and interact with them co-create fungal conservation, and what mainstream conservation may learn from fungal conservation discourses. As part of my work with fungi I am currently working as chair of the Fungal Use Specialty Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). From 2018-2022 I was a coordinating lead author for the IPBES Assessment on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species. And in service to the discipline, from 2020 - 2022 I served as the Chair of the Cultural and Political Ecology Specialty Group (CAPE) of the American Association of Geographers.

I supervise bachelor students in geography, and master students in the natural resource management, globalization and development, and geography. Past thesis topics have included mining activities and ocean literacy in Ghana, resource use and environmental citizenship in Norway, and alternative economic metrics for sustainability.

Current Projects:

Emplacing Algal Blooms to Advance Sustainability Theory and Praxis (EMBAST). 2022 - 2026. Co-principle investigator. Funded by the National Science Foundation (USA). In collaboration with University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Oppdrag Mjøsa. 2022 - 2027. Diverse funding. Research team leader for "Forskningsløp omgivelsene". In collaboration with FFI, NIVA, Akvaplan NIVA, NGU, SINTEF, Statens kartverk, Mjøsamuseet, Vassdragsforbundet, Miljødirektoratet, HIAS, og kommuner i Mjøsregionen.

Arctic Auditories: Hydrosphere in the High North. 2021 - 2025. Funded by the Norwegian Research Council. Senior researcher and work package leader. In collaboration with University of Tromsø, University of Bern and University of the Arts London.

Publications

2025

Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2025) 19.3 | Current Conservation.
Other
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Johnson, David; Tibuhwa, Donatha; Infanti, Jennifer Jean. (2025) healthy women, healthy fungi: a collaborative approach to conservation | Current Conservation. Current Conservation
Popular scientific article
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2025) Welcome to the World of Fungi. Current Conservation
Editorial
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2025) “Mapmaker, mapmaker, show me a map so that I may hear the world” | Arctic Auditories | Hydrospheres in the High North.
Other
Wroldsen, Jørn; Sørensen, Asgeir Johan; Eikemo, Terje Andreas; Ødegård, Øyvind; Davidsen, Jan Grimsrud; Ødegård, Rune Strand. (2025) Oppdrag Mjøsa - Årsrappport 2024. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Losleben, Katrin. (2025) Emplacing watery encounters: listening, care, and embodied knowledge for sustainable climate futures. Progress in Environmental Geography
Academic article

2024

Anvaari, Mohsen; Aslaksen, Hildegunn Mellesmo; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Gjefsen, Mads Dahl; Gjønnes, Synne Svinsås; Haavik, Torgeir Kolstø. (2024) Blindsoner om vekst og teknologioptimisme i arbeidet med stortingsmelding om bærekraftsarbeidet i Norge. www.regjeringen.no
Article in business/trade/industry journal

2023

Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2023) Conservation of Abundance: How Fungi can Contribute to Rethinking Conservation. Conservation and Society
Academic article
Weber, Elaina; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2023) Coloniality and indigenous ways of knowing at the edges: Emplacing Earth kin in conservation communities. New Zealand Geographer
Academic article
Fromentin, Jean-Marc; Emery, Marla R.; Donaldson, John; Balachander, Ganesan; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Chaudhary, Ram P.. (2023) Status, challenges and pathways to the sustainable use of wild species. Global Environmental Change
Academic article

2022

Fromentin, Jean-Marc; Emery, Marla R.; Donaldson, John; Danner, Marie-Claire; Hallosserie, Agnes; Kieling, Daniel. (2022) The thematic assessment report on the sustainable use of wild species: Summary for Policymakers. IPBES IPBES
Report
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Chaudhary, Ram Prasad; Ribeiro, Sonia Carvalho; Gilman, Eric; Hess, Jacqueline; Hillborn, Ray. (2022) Chapter 3: Status of and trends in the use of wild species and its implications for wild species, the environment and people.
Chapter

2020

Barron, Elizabeth; Hartmann, Laura; Hagemann, Frederik. (2020) From Place to Emplacement: The Scalar Politics of Sustainability. Local Environment : the International Journal of Justice and Sustainability
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth; Hess, Jaqueline. (2020) Non-human ‘labor’: the work of earth others.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Barron, Elizabeth. (2020) Emplacing Sustainability in a Post-Capitalist World.
Chapter

2015

Barron, Elizabeth; Sthultz, Chris; Hurley, Dale; Pringle, Anne. (2015) Names Matter: Interdisciplinary research on taxonomy and nomenclature for ecosystem management. Progress in physical geography
Academic article
Heilmann-Clausen, Jacob; Barron, Elizabeth S.; Boddy, Lynne; Dahlberg, Anders; Griffiths, Gareth Wyn; Nordén, Jenni. (2015) A fungal perspective on conservation biology. Conservation Biology
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth. (2015) Situating Wild Product Gathering in a Diverse Economy: Negotiating Ethical Interactions with Natural Resources.
Chapter

2014

Lave, Rebecca; Wilson, Matthew W.; Barron, Elizabeth; Biermann, Christine; Carey, Mark A.; Duvall, Chris S.. (2014) Critical Physical Geography. The Canadian Geographer (TCG)
Academic article

2012

Barron, Elizabeth; Emery, Marla R.. (2012) Implications of Variation in Social-Ecological Systems for the Development of United States Fungal Management Policy. Society & Natural Resources
Academic article

2011

Pringle, Anne; Barron, Elizabeth; Sartor, K.; Wares, J.. (2011) Fungi and the Anthropocene: Biodiversity Discovery in an Epoch of Loss. Fungal ecology
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth. (2011) The Emergence and Coalescence of Fungal Conservation Social Networks in Europe and the U.S.A. Fungal ecology
Academic article

2010

Emery, Marla R.; Barron, Elizabeth. (2010) Using Local Ecological Knowledge to Assess Morel Decline in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region. Economic Botany
Academic article

2008

Barron, Elizabeth; Patterson, William A.. (2008) Monitoring the Effects of Gypsy Moth Defoliation on Forest Stand Dynamics on Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Sampling Intervals and Appropriate Interpretations. Forest Ecology and Management
Academic article

Journal publications

Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Johnson, David; Tibuhwa, Donatha; Infanti, Jennifer Jean. (2025) healthy women, healthy fungi: a collaborative approach to conservation | Current Conservation. Current Conservation
Popular scientific article
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2025) Welcome to the World of Fungi. Current Conservation
Editorial
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Losleben, Katrin. (2025) Emplacing watery encounters: listening, care, and embodied knowledge for sustainable climate futures. Progress in Environmental Geography
Academic article
Anvaari, Mohsen; Aslaksen, Hildegunn Mellesmo; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Gjefsen, Mads Dahl; Gjønnes, Synne Svinsås; Haavik, Torgeir Kolstø. (2024) Blindsoner om vekst og teknologioptimisme i arbeidet med stortingsmelding om bærekraftsarbeidet i Norge. www.regjeringen.no
Article in business/trade/industry journal
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2023) Conservation of Abundance: How Fungi can Contribute to Rethinking Conservation. Conservation and Society
Academic article
Weber, Elaina; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2023) Coloniality and indigenous ways of knowing at the edges: Emplacing Earth kin in conservation communities. New Zealand Geographer
Academic article
Fromentin, Jean-Marc; Emery, Marla R.; Donaldson, John; Balachander, Ganesan; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Chaudhary, Ram P.. (2023) Status, challenges and pathways to the sustainable use of wild species. Global Environmental Change
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth; Hartmann, Laura; Hagemann, Frederik. (2020) From Place to Emplacement: The Scalar Politics of Sustainability. Local Environment : the International Journal of Justice and Sustainability
Academic article
Raatikainen, Kaisa; Barron, Elizabeth. (2017) Current agri-environmental policies dismiss varied perceptions and discourses on management of traditional rural biotopes. Land Use Policy
Academic article
Auken, Paul Van; Barron, Elizabeth; Xiong, Chong; Persson, Carly. (2016) ’Like a Second Home’: Conceptualizing Experiences Within the Fox River Watershed Through a Framework of Emplacement. Water
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth; Sthultz, Chris; Hurley, Dale; Pringle, Anne. (2015) Names Matter: Interdisciplinary research on taxonomy and nomenclature for ecosystem management. Progress in physical geography
Academic article
Heilmann-Clausen, Jacob; Barron, Elizabeth S.; Boddy, Lynne; Dahlberg, Anders; Griffiths, Gareth Wyn; Nordén, Jenni. (2015) A fungal perspective on conservation biology. Conservation Biology
Academic article
Lave, Rebecca; Wilson, Matthew W.; Barron, Elizabeth; Biermann, Christine; Carey, Mark A.; Duvall, Chris S.. (2014) Critical Physical Geography. The Canadian Geographer (TCG)
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth; Emery, Marla R.. (2012) Implications of Variation in Social-Ecological Systems for the Development of United States Fungal Management Policy. Society & Natural Resources
Academic article
Pringle, Anne; Barron, Elizabeth; Sartor, K.; Wares, J.. (2011) Fungi and the Anthropocene: Biodiversity Discovery in an Epoch of Loss. Fungal ecology
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth. (2011) The Emergence and Coalescence of Fungal Conservation Social Networks in Europe and the U.S.A. Fungal ecology
Academic article
Emery, Marla R.; Barron, Elizabeth. (2010) Using Local Ecological Knowledge to Assess Morel Decline in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region. Economic Botany
Academic article
Barron, Elizabeth; Patterson, William A.. (2008) Monitoring the Effects of Gypsy Moth Defoliation on Forest Stand Dynamics on Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Sampling Intervals and Appropriate Interpretations. Forest Ecology and Management
Academic article

Part of book/report

Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2025) 19.3 | Current Conservation.
Other
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna. (2025) “Mapmaker, mapmaker, show me a map so that I may hear the world” | Arctic Auditories | Hydrospheres in the High North.
Other
Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Chaudhary, Ram Prasad; Ribeiro, Sonia Carvalho; Gilman, Eric; Hess, Jacqueline; Hillborn, Ray. (2022) Chapter 3: Status of and trends in the use of wild species and its implications for wild species, the environment and people.
Chapter
Barron, Elizabeth; Hess, Jaqueline. (2020) Non-human ‘labor’: the work of earth others.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Barron, Elizabeth. (2020) Emplacing Sustainability in a Post-Capitalist World.
Chapter
Barron, Elizabeth. (2018) Who Values what Nature? Constructing Conservation Values with Fungi.
Chapter
Barron, Elizabeth. (2017) Who Cares? The Human Perspective on Fungal Conservation.
Chapter
Barron, Elizabeth. (2015) Situating Wild Product Gathering in a Diverse Economy: Negotiating Ethical Interactions with Natural Resources.
Chapter

Report

Wroldsen, Jørn; Sørensen, Asgeir Johan; Eikemo, Terje Andreas; Ødegård, Øyvind; Davidsen, Jan Grimsrud; Ødegård, Rune Strand. (2025) Oppdrag Mjøsa - Årsrappport 2024. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
Fromentin, Jean-Marc; Emery, Marla R.; Donaldson, John; Danner, Marie-Claire; Hallosserie, Agnes; Kieling, Daniel. (2022) The thematic assessment report on the sustainable use of wild species: Summary for Policymakers. IPBES IPBES
Report

Teaching

Courses

Outreach

2025

Academic lecture

Davidsen, Jan Grimsrud; Friis, Mikkel Emil Lange; Museth, Jon; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Ingulstad, Mats; Ødegård, Øyvind. (2025) Mission Mjøsa. 7. international conference on fish telemetry , Traverse city 2025-06-08 - 2025-06-13
Lecture

Losleben, Katrin; Mikalsen, Paula Ryggvik; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Sweers, Britta; Carlyle, Angus. (2025) Workshop 5: Merging with Water. Arctic Auditories presents Merging with Water , Digitalt 2025-04-30 - 2025-04-30
Lecture

Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Mikalsen, Paula Ryggvik. (2025) Online Writing League - Symposium. Online Writing League - Final Symposium , Digitalt 2025-04-29 - 2025-04-29

2024

Lecture

Solbu, Gisle; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe; Kotzakoulakis, Konstantinos; Piarulli, Stefani; Crosman, Kate; Xue, Jin. (2024) Webinars for post-growth futures 2024-2025. Webinar-series, Geminicentre for Post-Growth Futures and Post Consumption Citizenship , Teams 2024-09-11 - 2025-06-04

2023

Lecture

Sørensen, Asgeir Johan; Barron, Elizabeth Sanna; Ingulstad, Mats; Eikemo, Terje Andreas; Ødegård, Rune Strand; Davidsen, Jan Grimsrud. (2023) Hva har ammunisjonsdumping, gamle skipsvrak, alger, satellitter, drikkevann og droner til felles?. Ocean Week Gjøvik , Gjøvik 2023-05-04 - 2023-05-05

2021

Academic lecture

Barron, Elizabeth; Stokland, Håkon B.. (2021) Assessment of the sustainable use of wild species. Nettmøte om høring av Naturpanelet (IPBES) sin utredningsrapport om bærekraftig bruk av ville arter 2021-05-20 -

Språkvelger

Elizabeth Sanna Barron