Nathan Thompson

Biography

Nathan Thompson is a self-proclaimed “definitely not an adrenaline junkie” who loves mountain biking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting. He completed his Bachelors degree in environmental science at BYU in 2024 and during his time there he contributed to variety of research projects ranging from the effects of wildfire on stream ecology, to the intersection of poverty and air pollution in Nepal, to the impacts of recreation on desert soil and vegetation. Nathan is currently pursuing a Masters degree in environmental sociology at USU. His research interests relate to bridging the gap between environmental issues and the communities interacting with those issues, with his current focus being the drying of Great Salt Lake. Nathan’s motivation to save Great Salt Lake, along with other natural gems, comes from his personal experiences in the natural world, whether on camping trips with his friends and family or as a whitewater rafting guide with clients. Additionally, he has spent the past four years working with different environmental nonprofits focused on preserving Utah’s natural gems. When he’s not working on research projects or off exploring the world with his wife, Nathan is probably at home playing the banjo.