Meet Dr. Elise Gornish
Dr. Elise Gornish is an Associate Professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.
Her work with The Gornish Lab focuses on ecological restoration and land management strategies to mitigate effects of a shifting climate. Dr. Gornish is also the Director of the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill. The lab’s research provides insight into the cultural and natural history of the Sonoran Desert region.
Dr. Gornish routinely works with local community partners to implement science outreach and education. The Desert Lab supports programs including the Tumamoc Hill Youth Program and Tumamoc Author Series. In addition, Dr. Gornish founded Girls on Outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science (GALS), a program that creates opportunities for high school girls in outdoor leadership and place-based learning.
Currently, Dr. Gornish is a co-PI on the recipient team of the Arizona Institute for Resilience’s 2025-26 Annual Resilience Theme Grant. The team’s project will integrate science, arts, and education to engage local community partners in Sonoran Desert wild land fire ecology and conservation.
Dr. Gornish is a principal investigator (PI) for the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center's (SW CASC) Phase 3 Team.
Learn more about: The Gornish Lab The Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill Girls on Outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science (GALS)
Follow on Instagram: The Gornish Lab The Desert Lab GALS
Meet the people behind the science! This profile is part of the "Principal Investigator (PI) Profiles" series for the SW CASC's Phase 3 Team.
The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) is a federal-university partnership with the USGS and seven academic institutions across the southwest.