Dr. Thomas Azwell

Dr. Thomas Azwell is a UC Berkeley Professor whose work centers on environmental sustainability. He has collaborated with the USDA and the US Fish & Wildlife Service, among other government agencies, to carry out environmental remediation projects.

He is a seasoned professional in forming key partnerships across municipalities and mobilizing communities for conservation of natural resources. For his dedication in protecting forest ecosystems and building resilient communities, he has received many accolades including the UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Award for Public Service.

In the laboratory, he develops chemical assays for hemp-derived compounds to strengthen the accuracy of current testing standards, which increases transparency of results and expands compliance of farmers’ crops. His work on improving the accessibility of cannabinoid and terpenoid research contributes to the broader study of plants as natural sources of medicines.

In addition to being a field researcher and wet-lab scientist, he is a proponent of environmental science education in low-income diverse communities in the Bay Area and abroad. He has developed curriculum for local Bay Area high schools as well as Kagawaran ng Edukasyon, the department of education in the Philippines.

December 2024