Policy-Relevant Research Topics
Climate Change Impacts
I have directly contributed to several studies focused on the impacts of climate change on various regions, coastal areas, the forest sector, and human health.
For more information on the most recent projects, click on the links below or check out the publications pages and my CV for past projects in other regions of the country.
Societal Adaptation to Climate Change
My interest in societal response to climate change for the past 15 years has focused primarily on adaptation. (See also the sections on Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation).
For more information on the most recent projects, click on the links below.
Coastal Hazard Management
Much of my research has focused on the impacts of and responses to sea-level rise and related coastal hazards (floods, erosion) in coastal areas. Current research focuses on coastal management challenges in New England and in California.
For more information on the relevant projects, click on the links below.
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Effective Communication of Climate Change
Climate change is a difficult topic to communicate in a way that engages audiences. Yet, for society to act on climate change, i.e., to reduce the causes of human-induced global warming and to adapt to inevitable changes, the public and policy-makers need to understand the risks, possible implications, and available options for remedial action.
For more information on my work in this areas, click here.
The Use of Science in Decision-Making
Many environmental and social policy issues can benefit from appropriate and timely scientific input. Some of my research has focused on how policy- and decision-makers use scientific information, how scientists can make their information more relevant to resource managers and policy-makers, and how both can work together more productively.
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Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
Decision-makers must always act under conditions of uncertainty. Few contexts, however, are more affected by uncertainty than long-range global climate change and related impacts. Not surprisingly, uncertainty is a critical focus in global change research — how to improve our understanding of uncertainty, how to describe it, reduce it, and communicate it to decision-makers.
For more information on the relevant projects, click on the links below.
Stakeholder Participation in Assessments and Decision-Making
Research suggests that — under certain circumstances and if done effectively — involving those who may be affected by a particular environmental problem, policy, or decision in the assessment and decision-making process, can lead to better outcomes. I have closely followed the involvement of stakeholders in the First U.S. National Assessment and in ongoing institutions such as the NOAA-funded Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessment centers around the country.
For more information on the relevant projects, click on the links below.
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