Meet the Faculty - Danielle Kloster

11/04/2026

For Danielle Kloster, ESF is more than a place to teach and conduct research. It's where she found her path as an environmental scientist. An alumna of ESF's environmental science program, Danielle returned to campus as a faculty member in 2019. In this Meet the Faculty video, she shares how her experience as a student shaped her approach to teaching, from making environmental physics accessible and engaging to helping students understand the energy systems that shape our world. Her courses explore topics ranging from the physics of climate change and bird flight to fossil fuels, renewable energy, energy storage and the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

As a researcher, Kloster studies how people make decisions about natural resources, with a focus on forest management, carbon sequestration and climate change. Her work explores how private forest landowners in New York can support forest regeneration and climate goals, while her students bring additional perspectives to research on invasive species management. Hear how Kloster connects environmental science, energy and natural resource management with hands-on learning — and why working alongside ESF's passionate, environmentally minded students continues to inspire her.