Mark Nelson

Mark Nelson was one of the eight-person biospherian crew in the 2 year closure experiment in Biosphere 2, 1991-93. He is Chairman of the Institute of Ecotechnics (I.E.), USA and UK, and one of its founding directors along with John Allen and William Dempster. From 1970, Mark headed up the garden and orchard program at I.E.'s first demonstration project in Santa Fe, Synergia Ranch, developing methods of soil erosion control and soil improvement. He was the first general manager of I.E'.s tropical savannah regeneration project in the Kimberley of Northwest Australia. After Biosphere 2, he earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Sciences, under renowned systems ecologist, H.T. Odum. Mark further developed the Biosphere 2 constructed wetland system into "Wastewater Gardens" technology, now implemented worldwide. He is active in the international space science community, associate editor of the journal Advances in Space Research, and a vice-chairman of the closed ecological system section of COSPAR (the International Committee of Space Research).

Mark Nelson, Ph.D.

Chairman, Institute of Ecotechnics, http://www.ecotechnics.edu

Head, Biospheric Design Division, Global Ecotechnics Corporation, http://www.biosphericdesign.com

Director, Wastewater Gardens International, http://www.wastewatergardens.com