Dr. Gallo has performed action-research for nearly two decades in the NGO sector as a conservation planner and geographer.  His mission is to help society work together more effectively in attaining socio-ecological resilience (the ability to withstand impacts, such as global climate change). Despite consternation from his original funders, his philosophy is that since we have committed to technology, we should use it—let’s  aggressively develop the technologies that can help sustain our natural resources and environment rather than allowing technological dependency to be an uncontested net negative for Nature.

John received highest honors at University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.S. in Ecology, a B.A. in Environmental Science, and a Ph.D. in Geography.  His formative role in the NGO sector was as founding Director for Conception Coast Project with the mission to protect and restore the natural heritage of the Santa Barbara region through community involvement, science, and long term planning. He has since worked in South Africa with some of the global leaders in this line of research, and at an advocacy NGO in the US.  He is now Senior Scientist at Conservation Biology Institute, an NGO dedicated to bridging conservation science and practice.