Alan Watson lives in Montana with Kansas and Virginia roots. From Virginia Tech to the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute (Missoula) – where he was US Forest Service Senior Executive Scientist (Super Grade) -- his education, service and science have been aimed at understanding and protecting wilderness places and experiences. Alan is a Fulbright Scholar and concluded a 3 year appointment as a Visiting Scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2026. His current affiliation is mostly with the trees, mountains, rivers and lakes of Western Montana.