Richard Watts is an Assistant Research Professor in CDAE and the Research Director at the University Transportation Center at the University of Vermont. Richard's research interests include the intersection of communications theory with environmental policy-making, particularly examining mass media to understand public policy outcomes in energy and transportation policy. Prior to his work at the University of Vermont, Richard served as a Policy Fellow at the Snelling Center for Government, as the director of a strategic communications consulting firm and as the manager of a non-profit testing and demonstrating electric vehicles. Richard has also worked as a government policy analyst, campaign manager and journalist.

• Courses
• Recent Reports & Articles
• Recent Presentations

Sample of Courses Taught

Richard Watts' course descriptions by semester available here.

CDAE 295Z3 Media and Public Policy

CDAE 392A Graduate Seminars

ENVS 195Z8 Transportation Planning

PA 295A Critical Issues for Transportation in the 21st Century

Recent Reports & Articles

Richard Watts. Planning for Power: An Examination of News Media Discourse in the Siting of a High-Voltage Transmission Line in Vermont. Communication Quarterly, Eastern Communication Association. Submitted August, 2009.

Andrew Weeks, Richard Watts and Lisa Aultman-Hall. 2009. Transportation Impacts of Smart Growth Development in Maine

Vermont Transportation Energy Report 2009 Jennifer Kenyan, Karen Glitman and Richard Watts

Richard Watts, Elaine Wang and Lisa Aultman-Hall. December, 2008. Transportation Efficiency in Vermont

Steve Letendre and Richard Watts. August 2008. Effects of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles on the Vermont Electric Transmission System.

Richard Watts and Erica Campbell, August 2008. Voices of Vermonters, 2008 Transportation Long-Range Plan

Richard Watts, May 2006. Engaging Citizens in Vermont's Energy Future. Snelling Center for Government.

Recent Presentations

Crumbling Infrastructure or Long-Term Solution: An Examination of News Media Discourse Related to Gas Taxes. AASHTO Annual Conference, October 2009.

Planning for Power: An Examination of News Media Discourse in the Siting of a High-Voltage Transmission Line in Vermont. AEJMC Annual Conference, August 2009.

Transportation in Rural Areas. Center for Research on Vermont. University of Vermont. March 19, 2009.

Growing Green Communities: Infrastructure Development and the Environment. Vermont Law School, February 19, 2009.

Effects of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles on the Vermont Electric Transmission System, By Watts & Letendre, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, January 2009, Washington, D.C.