Aquatic & Fisheries Science | Biogeochemistry & Ecosystem Ecology | Forest Science | Geologic & Watershed Science | Geospatial Analysis & Modeling | Ecological Design | Ecosystem Services & Ecological Economics | Environmental Culture & Education | Environmental Health & Justice | Environmental Policy & Planning | Recreation & Tourism | Wildlife Science
Rubenstein School faculty are experts in a range of natural and social science fields. Alongside staff and students, they conduct interdisciplinary research in response to challenging environmental issues.
School research addresses overarching themes of climate change, environmental justice, and human and environmental sustainability. Scholarly work at the interface of environment and human communities is a longtime cornerstone of the Rubenstein School research program. Scholars are guided by the School's core and enabling strategies, and their research findings support pursuit of the School’s mission question.
Research Areas
Aquatic and Fisheries Science
Faculty study and model ecology, behavior, genetics, and population and food web dynamics of fishes and other aquatic organisms, including invertebrates, plankton, and cyanobacteria in lakes, rivers, and streams. Their research focuses on restoration and management of native species, impacts and control of invasive species, and effects of climate change and human disturbance on aquatic ecosystems.
Faculty
- Mark Henderson: Fish population modeling, food web ecology, environmental DNA, acoustic telemetry, mark-recapture, fish ecology
- Ellen Marsden: Fisheries ecology, fish behavior, aquatic invasive species
- Mindy Morales-Williams: Limnology, phytoplankton ecology, biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, lake ecosystem ecology
- Jason Stockwell: Aquatic ecology, food web dynamics, predator-prey interactions
Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Ecology
Faculty analyze and model biogeochemical and ecosystem processes on global, regional, and local scales to understand forest and aquatic ecosystem and agricultural land responses to natural and human-caused environmental change. Their research concentrates on the water cycle; carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling; microbial decomposition; greenhouse gas emissions; and carbon and energy accounting, all with an emphasis on sustaining and managing critical ecosystems.
Faculty
- Carol Adair: Global climate change, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry
- Gillian Galford: Environmental sustainability, ecosystems ecology, nitrogen and carbon cycling, greenhouse gases, remote sensing, ecosystems modeling, land-cover and land-use change, tropical agriculture
- Mindy Morales-Williams: Limnology, phytoplankton ecology, biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, lake ecosystem ecology
- Mariano A. Rodriguez-Cabal: Community ecology, global change ecology, invasive species, plant-animal interactions
- Eric Roy: Nutrient biogeochemistry & management, ecological engineering & design, aquatic ecology, food systems, material flow analysis
Forest Science
Faculty study ecology, growth, structure, health, and productivity of trees and forests in natural and sustainably managed ecosystems and in human communities. Their research focuses on forest ecosystem response and adaptation in changing global conditions; forest restoration; and ecologically based management for a range of societal objectives, including carbon.
Faculty
- Carol Adair: Global climate change, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry
- Anthony D'Amato: Silviculture, forest ecology, forest management, forest adaptation
- Cecilia Danks: Environmental policy, sustainable forestry, community forestry, climate change mitigation, forest carbon markets, woody biomass energy
- Luben Dimov: Silviculture; forest diversity, productivity, and resilience; forest restoration; sustainable forest management
- William Keeton: Forest ecology and dynamics; climate, forest carbon & energy; sustainable forestry
Geologic and Watershed Sciences
Faculty investigate and model hydrology, geology, and chemistry of landscapes and watersheds to assess impacts of land use and global change on geophysical and chemical processes, stormwater and flood regimes, erosion, water quality, and health of lakes, rivers, and streams. Outputs include management recommendations, watershed outreach programming, community engagement, and science education.
Faculty
- Paul Bierman: Geology, geohydrology, erosion and human-landscape interaction, climate change, science education and communication
- Anne Jefferson: Watershed hydrology and geomorphology
- Julia Perdrial: Environmental geochemistry, low temperature (bio)-geochemical processes, carbon dynamics, dissolved organic matter chemistry, hydrology and biochemistry, mineral alteration and weathering, clay mineralogy
- Nicholas Perdrial: Environmental mineralogy, environmental geochemistry, molecular spectroscopy, electron microscopy, soil science, planetology
- Kristine Stepenuck: Watershed science, impacts of land use on water quality, community science, community engagement
- Beverley Wemple: Watershed science, forest-water interactions, mountain hydrology and geomorphology
Geospatial Analysis and Modeling
Faculty apply geospatial technology, using drones and remote sensing, to map urban tree canopy, wildlife habitat, land cover change, water quality, and more. They use modeling technology to study wildlife population dynamics and impacts of land use and land cover change on ecosystems.
Faculty
- Therese Donovan: Landscape ecology, wildlife population modeling, adaptive management
- Gillian Galford: Environmental sustainability, ecosystems ecology, nitrogen and carbon cycling, greenhouse gases, remote sensing, ecosystems modeling, land-cover and land-use change, tropical agriculture
- Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne: Geospatial technology, Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS), urban tree canopy assessment, land cover mapping, remote sensing change detection, hydrologic modeling
Ecological Design
Faculty study and apply nutrient cycling, ecological engineering, food systems, and material flow analysis to design nature-based solutions and green infrastructure, involving soils, water, plants, and organisms to sustainably manage waste and pollutants in indoor, urban, agricultural, and wetland ecosystems. Research focuses on resource recovery and reuse and production of usable ecological products such as food and fertilizer.
Faculty
- Eric Roy: Nutrient biogeochemistry & management, ecological engineering & design, aquatic ecology, food systems, material flow analysis
Ecosystem Services and Ecological Economics
Faculty examine how to meet the needs of people and nature in an increasingly crowded and changing world. They study and model the economics and worth of ecosystem services, or nature’s benefits such as food, water, pollination, and energy, and non-material values such as human health and well-being. They quantify impacts of global climate and land use changes on agriculture to inform sustainable practices and improved rural livelihoods. Their work leads to practical conservation and policy efforts regionally and worldwide.
Faculty
- Jon Erickson: Ecological economics, sustainable development, systems modeling
- Joshua Farley: Ecological economics, development economics, economic globalization
- Brendan Fisher: Ecosystem services, ecological/environmental economics, natural resource management, poverty & human health, behavioral economics & sustainability
- Gillian Galford: Environmental sustainability, ecosystems ecology, nitrogen and carbon cycling, greenhouse gases, remote sensing, ecosystems modeling, land-cover and land-use change, tropical agriculture
- Rachelle Gould: Environmental values, well-being, cultural ecosystem services, environmental learning, human behavior, policy, diversity, equity
- Taylor Ricketts: Community & landscape ecology, ecosystem services, ecological economics, conservation biology, environmental policy, pollination ecology, biogeography, linking research & conservation communities
- Lini Wollenberg: Climate change & land use, natural resource management & governance, agriculture-forest landscapes, anthropology, international rural livelihoods
Environmental Culture and Education
Faculty study environmental thought, cultural theory and exchange, and the intersections of ecology, culture, identity, religion, media, and creative arts. They explore how people learn about the environment, including through place-based education, and how learning connects to behavior. They examine ecological leadership and learning that incorporates the wisdom of nature and challenges forces of power and privilege.
Faculty
- Rachelle Gould: Environmental values, well-being, cultural ecosystem services, environmental learning, human behavior, policy, diversity, equity
- Adrian Ivakhiv: Environmental thought, cultural theory, global cultural change
- Matthew Kolan: Ecological leadership and learning; power, privilege, and equity; social transformation and systems change; field ecology
- Walter Poleman: Landscape analysis, place-based education, land conservation, social-ecological systems science
Environmental Health and Justice
Faculty examine environmental benefits of natural ecosystems to society and human well-being; relationships of environmental conditions with human health and socio-economic disparities; environmental controversies and social disparities around emerging contaminants, land use development, food, energy, transportation, and occupational hazards. Their work incorporates community-based research and equity and inclusion and informs equitable decision-making and environmental justice policy.
Faculty
- Brendan Fisher: Ecosystem services, ecological/environmental economics, natural resource management, poverty & human health, behavioral economics & sustainability
- Rachelle Gould: Environmental values, well-being, cultural ecosystem services, environmental learning, human behavior, policy, diversity, equity
- Bindu Panikkar: Environmental health, community based research, environmental policy, natural resources, Arctic environment and health, environmental health social movements, environmental justice
Environmental Policy and Planning
Faculty apply their research to environmental and social policy and planning around climate change, community well-being, community-based forestry and carbon markets, forest and watershed management, land use development, outdoor recreation, tourism development, energy, and environmental health and justice. Their research includes community participation and integration of natural science and social values.
Faculty
- Cecilia Danks:Environmental policy, sustainable forestry, community forestry, climate change mitigation, forest carbon markets, woody biomass energy
- Clare Ginger: Environmental policy, watershed/forest planning, organization studies
- Bindu Panikkar: Environmental health, community based research, environmental policy, natural resources, Arctic environment and health, environmental health social movements, environmental justice
- Patricia Stokowski: Outdoor recreation behavior, parks, community tourism development, sense of place
Recreation and Tourism
Faculty explore social and cultural aspects of outdoor recreation and parks, environmental interpretation and sense of place, and tourism development in rural and resource dependent communities.
Faculty
- Patricia Stokowski: Outdoor recreation behavior, parks, community tourism development, sense of place
Wildlife Science
Faculty study and model ecology, behavior, and habitats of mammals, birds, and reptiles and amphibians. They assess animal population distributions and dynamics and effects of human activities and global change on wildlife populations and biodiversity, all with an emphasis toward conservation and management.
Faculty
- Therese Donovan: Landscape ecology, wildlife population modeling, adaptive management
- Brittany Mosher: Disease and population ecology, quantitative ecology, conservation decision-making, herpetology, conservation biology
- James Murdoch: Wildlife ecology, conservation biology
- Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal: Community ecology, global change ecology, invasive species, plant-animal interactions
- Allan Strong: Avian ecology, conservation biology, landscape ecology
