Current Project Summaries

Below is current research being conducted by ESS Faculty and Students.

Environmental Policy and Agricultural Decision-Making

These projects examine the interactions between environmental policy, individual land use/management decisions, and physical landscape outcomes. 

For more information contact: 
Dr. Eric Toman, toman.10@osu.edu
Dr. Robyn Wilson, wilson.1376@osu.edu
Dr. Douglas Jackson-Smith, jackson-smith.1@osu.edu
Dr. Jeffery Jacquet, jacquet.8@osu.edu
Dr. Kerry Ard, ard.7@osu.edu

Psychology of Sustainable Consumption

These projects examine social, cognitive, and affective factors involved in promoting a variety of pro-environmental behaviors. 

For more information contact: 
Dr. Nicole Sintov, sintov.2@osu.edu
Dr. Grant Donnelly, donnelly.177@osu.edu
Dr. Jeremy Brooks, brooks.719@osu.edu

Collaborative and Adaptive Governance in Environmental Policy

These projects study how policy stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental actors) engage in collaborative behavior to tackle environmental problems that result from excessive, improper, or controversial use of common-pool resources. 

For more information contact:  
Dr. Ramiro Berardo, berardo.3@osu.edu
Dr. Matt Hamilton, hamilton.1323@osu.edu
Dr. Eric Toman, toman.10@osu.edu
Dr. Jeremy Brooks, brooks.719@osu.edu

Human-Wildlife Interactions

These projects examine the socio-psychological factors (e.g., values, wildlife value orientations) that influence human-wildlife interactions and more broadly, wildlife conservation and management. Students with experience using ArcGIS or QGIS are ideal, though such experience can be acquired at OSU. 

For more information contact: 
Dr. Alia Dietsch, dietsch.29@osu.edu
Dr. Jeremy Bruskotter, bruskotter.9@osu.edu
Dr. Eric Toman, toman.10@osu.edu 

Role of Ecosystem Services in Conservation and Economic Development 

These projects examine non-timber forest products and ecosystem services as tools for resource conservation and rural economic development.

For more information contact: 
Dr. Sayeed Mehmood, mehmood.9@osu.edu

Public Lands and Visitor Use Management

These projects examine factors that influence decision-making related to the management of visitors on public lands (e.g., national wildlife refuges, parks, or forests; state or local metro parks).

For more information contact: 
Dr. Marijke Hecht, hecht.102@osu.edu
Dr. Alia Dietsch, dietsch.29@osu.edu

Environmental Inequality

These projects investigate how social processes create and sustain environmental inequalities by race and class, and/or how these unequal exposures are linked to various disparities (e.g., health, access).

For more information contact:
Dr. Alia Dietsch, dietsch.29@osu.edu
Dr. Jeffery Jacquet, jacquet.8@osu.edu
Dr. Eric Toman, toman.10@osu.edu
Dr. Marijke Hecht, hecht.102@osu.edu
Dr. Kerry Ard, ard.7@osu.edu

Sustainable Development and Community Wellbeing

These projects explore the relationship between human well-being, sustainable development and consumption, and the built and social environment in both urban and rural as well as national and international contexts.

For more information contact:
Dr. Kristi Lekies, lekies.1@osu.edu
Dr. Jeff Sharp, sharp.123@osu.edu
Dr. Jeremy Brooks, brooks.719@osu.edu

Dr. Marijke Hecht, hecht.102@osu.edu
Dr. Kerry Ard, ard.7@osu.edu

Social and Economic Wellbeing in Agriculture 

These projects explore the social sustainability of farmers, farm families, farm businesses and rural communities. Current research is focused on farm stress, intergenerational transitions, community and economic development through food and agriculture, and access to childcare and health care by rural and farming populations.

For more information contact:
Dr. Shoshanah Inwood, inwood.2@osu.edu

Environmental Experiences, Education, and Outreach

These projects focus on aspects of outdoor experiences, outdoor recreation, environmental education, program evaluation, and community outreach in Ohio, the United States, and international contexts.

For more information contact:
Dr. Kristi Lekies, lekies.1@osu.edu 
Dr. Marijke Hecht, hecht.102@osu.edu
Dr. Kerry Ard, ard.7@osu.edu