Grey Hayes' interdisciplinary and scientific training compliment his interest in collaborative approaches to decision making, so that he is better able to integrate people's interests with the needs of natural systems. Grey received his doctorate in Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz with an emphasis in restoration ecology. While his roots are in the plant ecology, he has much experience in entomology, agriculture, forestry, and amphibian and reptile ecology as well as environmental policy and land management techniques. Grey's greatest familiarity is with management and restoration techniques for California's grasslands, maritime chaparral, and redwood forest communities. He has authored or co-authored numerous scientific publications along with book chapters and popular literature. He is as passionate for research as he is for seeing that research is applied towards solutions. And so, he has worked in many realms to translate and facilitate the transfer of scientific information to practice.

Grey has extensively assisted the Elkhorn Slough Coastal Training Program in providing information and training needs to environmental professionals on California's central coast. This popular program has trained hundreds of people, helping to create enhanced baseline knowledge of ecosystems, threatened species, monitoring and management protocol, planning methodologies, and strategies to reduce stresses to human and natural systems. Grey works at all facets of the program, including audience needs assessment, program design and implementation, and evaluation. His facilitation and moderation skills have helped to define a higher level of expectation for such training programs. Grey has also assisted the Coastal Training Program with numerous publications both on and off the web. Grey frequently receives requests to assist others in developing training and outreach programs, educational events, and outreach publications. Even with the success of these programs, Grey enjoys greater reward with the collaborative learning networks he has helped to foster.

Grey suggests that collaborative learning networks are the key to producing long term solutions to many of society's increasingly complex environmental problems. Such networks must involve a diversity of human interests, define common goals, and use a process that explores common questions, kindling trust and awakening joy of learning together to improve both society and natural resources. Grey currently works with collaborative learning networks involving California's grasslands and shrublands, focusing on improved livestock and fire/fuels management. His experience with these groups helps Grey to better appreciate the complexities of human relationships and the commonly held desire to improved community.

Rigorous science that informs policy and management in the context of long term respectful dialogues are the hallmarks of Grey's life work. He strongly believes that a well functioning democracy is necessary to long term natural resource conservation as well as to human peace and freedom. But, he also knows that requires widespread and profound respect for both science and one another. It is with these goals in mind that Grey dedicates his energy to facilitating better dialogues and training others to do the same.

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