Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology

Marie E. Antoine is my wife and most important collaborator. She has published several papers on the ecology of epiphytes and forest canopies. Together we explore the tall forests of the world.

Dr. Robert S. Van Pelt is probably the human with the deepest understanding of trees. He and I have been working together for over a decade on many aspects of the tallest and largest trees.

Dr. George W. Koch is a Professor at Northern Arizona University with an abiding passion for tall trees. He and I started climbing together in the early 1990s while I was a graduate student studying Douglas–fir forest canopies in Oregon. We are currently studying the physiology of the five tallest tree species.

Jim C. Spickler earned his Master´s degree at Humboldt State University, where he studied arboreal salamanders in the redwood forest canopy. Jim is the founder and chief biologist of Eco-Ascension Research & Consulting and among the world’s most experienced climbers. He has been an integral part of my research activities since 1998.

Cameron B. Williams earned his Master’s degree at Humboldt State University, where he studied the epiphyte communities inhabiting redwood crowns. Cameron’s work revealed almost 300 species living on redwood, including at least one species new to science, a crustose lichen in the genus Calicium. He is also a gifted athlete and climber who has been an integral part of my research activities since 1999.

Gregory M. Jennings earned his Master’s degree at Humboldt State University, where he studied the vertical gradient of water stress and leaf morphology in tall redwoods. Greg’s thesis research has been published in two scientific papers, including one in the journal Nature. Today he is an ecologist with the Bureau of Land Management directing research in the Headwaters Forest Reserve.

Dr. Hiroaki Ishii, an Associate Professor at Kobe University in Japan, is a leading expert on tree structure who has worked with me in the tall trees of California and Australia. Roaki is also a highly skilled climber with a work ethic and eye for detail that are inspiring.

Bryan Kotwica is an arborist from Chicago who also happens to be an amazing cartoonist. Bryan is famous for his illustrations of tree climbing techniques and equipment. He is also a consummate climber who loves working in trees as much as anyone I have ever known. We work together whenever we can.

Dan Krauss is an arborist from Seattle who is one of the world’s best tree climbers. Dan recently helped me with some very strenuous work in tall redwoods, making it seem easy. I learned a lot from climbing with Dan and hope to learn more!

Tobe Sherrill runs Sherrill Arborist Supply Inc., one of the world’s greatest companies. Having purchased many items from his epic catalog over the years, I was delighted to learn that Tobe is also a skilled climber who loves big trees and is willing to help with research. We climb together as often as possible.

Brett Mifsud is a music teacher, classical guitarist, athlete, and artist from Melbourne, Australia who has found and measured nearly all of the tallest known flowering trees over 262 feet on Earth. Brett has published papers in scientific journals on the tallest trees and is always looking for taller trees.

Tom Greenwood is a leading arborist in Melbourne, Australia who has a passion for tall trees. Together with Brett Mifsud, Tom has climbed and measured most of the tallest known trees in Australia. He is one of the world’s best tree climbers, and I have learned a lot climbing with him.

Dr. T. Scott Sillett, my older brother, is a biologist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Washington D.C. who studies the population biology of migratory birds. Scott has climbed with me many times since 1989, including on a recent trip to Australia where he helped collect data from the tallest Eucalyptus.