Charles van Rees is an assistant professor and the lead Principal Investigator of the Wildlife and Water Lab in the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. He is interdisciplinary conservation scientist and interpretive naturalist combining a broad background in field ecology, evolutionary biology, natural history, and wildlife conservation with training in water resources management and transdisciplinary environmental research. Charles' research focuses on the complex interactions between water-related societal risks, water security, and biodiversity conservation. Most recently, he has designed frameworks for better including ecological knowledge into Integrated Water Resources Management. His past work has focused on Hawaii's endangered wetland bird species, the impacts of rice agriculture practices on waterbirds in Spanish rice fields, data-driven methods for proactive management of freshwater invasive species, and on setting continental and global freshwater biodiversity conservation priorities for the European Union and United Nations Environment Programme.