Christopher Golden
Faculty Advisor

Christopher Golden is a planetary health ecologist and epidemiologist whose research explores the intersections between ecosystem health and human nutrition. Since 1999, his work in Madagascar has examined how coastal and terrestrial ecosystems impact micronutrient intake, disease patterns, and public health outcomes.

Golden leads a research agenda that uses planetary health frameworks to study and address global nutrition challenges—particularly in marine and aquatic food systems affected by climate change, fisheries decline, and biodiversity loss. His team applies data science and remote sensing to anticipate health risks related to ecosystem degradation—including deforestation, sea surface warming, and changing fisheries—and works with partners to model intervention pathways.

Dr. Golden earned his BA from Harvard College and both an MPH in Epidemiology and a PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from UC Berkeley. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in planetary health at Harvard University’s Center for the Environment. He directs the Program on Nutrition & Planetary Health, co-directs the Climate Change and Planetary Health concentration, and serves on key interdisciplinary boards including the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment.

A National Geographic Emerging Explorer and long-term field researcher in coastal communities worldwide, Dr. Golden is founding director of MAHERY (Madagascar Health & Environmental Research), a non‑profit training local researchers in planetary health science. His work has been published in Nature, Science, PNAS, and other leading journals.