Dr. Nadkarni’s research interests include the ecological roles that canopy-dwelling plants play in forests at multiple spatial and temporal scales and the effects of forest fragmentation on community function. She is also interested in the development of database tools for canopy researchers; dissemination of research results to non-scientific audiences; partnering of scientists and artists to enhance conservation of forests. She carries out research in Washington State and in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and is supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Mellon Foundation, and the Whitehall Foundation.
She is deeply committed to public engagement with science. In 1994, she co-founded the International Canopy Network, a non-profit organization that fosters communication among researchers, educators, and conservationists concerned with forest canopies. Her work has been featured in Natural History, Glamour, Playboy, and others, and she has appeared in many television documentaries, including Bill Nye the Science Guy, Good Morning, America, National Geographic, and CNN’s The Next List. She has given two TED talks, and over 25 endowed lectures around the world.