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Dr. David Trimbach

Dr. David J. Trimbach is the Conservation Social Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Dayton; M.U.S. in Community Development from Portland State University; and Ph.D. in Human Geography from the University of Kansas. He was previously a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Research Associate in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University, where he worked closely with the Puget Sound Partnership, a Washington state agency, as their in-house social scientist.

He is an applied social scientist with experience in human geography and the human dimensions of fish, wildlife, and natural resource management. His research has largely focused on examining social science integration within environmental decision-making, people-place relationships, and human-environment interactions. He is interested in sense of place, human wellbeing, environmental governance, environmental justice, and community engagement. His research seeks to better understand the deep connections between people and the environment to contribute to planning and decision-making. At WDFW, David is currently engaged in projects associated with gauging Puget Sound residents’ estuary literacy and knowledge; examining Puget Sound residents’ identities and connections to salmon; and understanding residents’ wellbeing as it relates to Puget Sound’s natural environment through an inclusive community-based project.