The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

M. Sanjayan, lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy, has been named Science and Environmental Contributor to CBS News. In this role, Sanjayan will provide insight into a broad range of scientific and environmental topics across multiple platforms and contribute to CBS News broadcasts, including CBS This Morning and CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley.

As lead scientist at The Nature Conservancy, Sanjayan specializes in human well-being and conservation, wildlife ecology and environmental education. He travels extensively to assess conservation efforts and wildlife protection needs across the globe. His scientific work has been published in journals including Science, Nature and Conservation Biology and has also received widespread print media coverage, including Vanity Fair, Men's Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Outside and The New York Times.

Sanjayan’s broad-reaching television experience includes co-hosting documentaries for BBC, Discovery Channel, PBS and National Geographic TV, including his critically acclaimed 2010 four-part series, Powering the Future, on the Discovery Channel. Filming on his new series for PBS and National Geographic TV begins this year.

Sanjayan is a sought-after speaker with recent appearances at TED Global, International Women’s Forum, Aspen Environment Forum, Aspen Ideas Festival, Clinton Global Initiative and the Summit Series. He is a Catto Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a senior advisor to the Clinton Global Initiative.

Sanjayan holds a doctorate from the University of California, Santa Cruz and has a research faculty appointment with the Wildlife Program at the University of Montana. He is an avid fly-fisherman in Western Montana, where he lives.