HOMEPAGE - Resource Modeling Association

Resource Modeling Association

I first attended the World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, in 2001. At that time, I was a new assistant professor of agricultural economics at Louisiana State University in- terested in applying dynamic optimization to solve nat- ural resources management problems. Conferences of agricultural economists address several issues related to agriculture, but I was searching for an association that focused on solving natural resource management-re- lated problems using optimization problems. Resource Modeling Association was the ideal place to address my curiosity and meet like-minded people. WCNRM brings people from mathematics, economics, ecology, forestry, fisheries, and other areas who are interested in modeling natural resources using mathematical modeling. Since my first conference attendance in Logan, I have served the association and attended its conferences several times. Attending the conference has been the highlight of my annual activities – I look forward to attending the WCNRM. In addition to my personal journey, I am immensely proud to have contributed to the RMA’s global reach by playing a pivotal role in bringing the conference to Guangzhou, China in 2018. We have an excellent journal and an outstanding association. As in the past, we need continuous involvement from members to make the association vibrant. Our members and authors in the association’s Natural Resource Modeling journal can solve environmental resource problems such as climate change, land and water quality degradation, forest, fish, wild- life and biodiversity depletion. Our conference wild- life venues are always excellent, and the number of at- tendees is just right to grow our professional network. Assuming the role of president of this outstand- ing association is a profound honor. Frank van-Langevelde has done an outstanding job serving as association president for the last three years. He will continue to serve the association as past president and advise me about the association’s different functions. One of those significant functions is organizing an annual conference. The last conference in Amster- dam was a success, and we look forward to the 2024 conference in New Haven, Connecticut. The conference will be on June 10-13, 2024, and our local hosts are Professors Kamal P. Upadhyay and Patrick Gourley of the University of New Haven. Professors Upadhyay and Gourley have organized a fun-filled field trip you do not want to miss. I extend a warm and sincere invitation to all of you to actively participate in this con- ference by presenting your research papers and post- ers. The conference offers an exceptional opportunity to augment your professional network and to play an integral role in addressing global challenges related to natural resource management. I look forward to your presence in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, next year.
Sincerely,

Krishna P. Paudel
Deputy Director for Research and Communications Economic Research Service,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

“We are scientists of mathematical modeling, environmental sciences, sustainability sciences and natural resource management.”

The RMA is an international association of scientists working at the intersection of mathematical modeling, environmental sciences and natural resource management. RMA contributes to interdisciplinary research in service to the sustainability of both our planet and human societies.

President column

Dr. Matthew Holden
President, Resource Modeling Association

It’s an incredible honor to step into the role of President of the Resource Modeling Association (RMA), a global community of researchers who use modeling to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

My journey with the RMA began back in 2012, when I was a PhD student. Professor Catherine Roberts, who was then Editor-in-Chief of our journal, Natural Resource Modeling, invited me to attend a special session at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Boston. I was surprised and deeply grateful to be welcomed into such a space as a relatively unknown student with no publications to my name. That early gesture of support made a lasting impression. At that session, I was inspired by the quality of the talks, but even more so by the people: open, intellectually generous, diverse, and driven by a common purpose to use modeling to make the world a better place. I returned to those special sessions again in San Antonio and have since been fortunate to attend World Conferences on Natural Resource Modeling around the world—including Flagstaff, Montreal, Amsterdam, New Haven, and Kathmandu. Every meeting has shown me not just how powerful modeling can be, but also how much richer and more relevant our work becomes when we welcome a broad range of voices, disciplines, and perspectives into the conversation.

As we look ahead, I want to extend a heartfelt invitation to researchers who use quantitative modeling in applied, interdisciplinary settings, but who may not think of themselves as “modelers.” Whether you work in sustainability, environmental science, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, economics, or public health, whether you call yourself a data scientist, ecologist, engineer, hydrologist, or social scientist, this is your community too. We value creativity, clarity, collaboration, and especially highly applied work that drives real-world impact.

Looking to the near future, I’m thrilled to invite you to our next World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in 2026. With the theme “Modeling for Better Futures,” this meeting will celebrate cutting-edge research that not only advances theory but makes a tangible difference in the world. Stellenbosch, a hub of scientific excellence and natural beauty, set in the heart of South Africa’s winelands, will offer the perfect setting to connect across continents, disciplines, and generations of researchers.

This is a pivotal time for the Resource Modeling Association. The challenges we face, such as climate instability, biodiversity loss, and resource conflicts, require not just better models, but new and diverse ways of thinking, teaching, and connecting across fields. I see the RMA playing a leading role in shaping those futures. We are expanding our networks, modernizing our conferences, supporting early-career researchers, and strengthening our journal, Natural Resource Modeling, as a home for both rigorous science and diverse perspectives.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’re new to the society or have been with us for decades, I’m excited to learn from you, work alongside you, and help build a more inclusive and impactful RMA together.

With gratitude and optimism,
Dr. Matthew Holden
President, Resource Modeling Association