Human Dimensions Lab
We study human attitudes and behaviors related to forest ecosystems, as well as a wide range of ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being. We work on a variety of natural resource contexts including forestry, wildfires and other natural disasters, water, and climate change.
Our research projects build conceptual and theoretical frameworks combined with empirical observations, data analyses and modeling and respond to urgent policy and management needs for a wide array of policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders.
Research areas include but are not limited to:
- Natural resource sociology
- Community resilience adaptation and planning
- Community adaptation to environmental risks
- Collaborative resource management
- Ecosystem services valuation
- Payments for ecosystem services
- Regional economic impact analysis
- Science-policy interface and science coproduction
Primary contacts
Catrin Edgeley, Assistant Professor
Email: catrin.edgeley@nau.edu
Phone: (928) 523-7347
NAU profile
Google Scholar
PO Box 15018
School of Forestry
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Cat Edgeley conducts research about the human dimensions of forestry, focusing predominantly on wildfire social science. This includes exploring the diversity of ways in which communities adapt to wildfire and its associated risks, social dimensions of post-fire recovery, evacuation planning and behaviors, and community experiences with forest management and policy.
Yeonsu (Yeon-Su) Kim, Professor of Ecological Economics
Email: ysk@nau.edu
Phone: (928) 523-6643
NAU profile
Google Scholar
PO Box 15018
School of Forestry
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Yeon-Su Kim is a professor of Ecological Economics, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University. She has expertise in economic valuation of forest ecosystem services and regional economic impact analysis. Her research focuses on social and economic dimensions of ecological restoration and wildfires in the American southwest, as well as factors promoting collective actions for sustainable forest management in developing countries.
Alark Saxena, Assistant Professor
Email : alark.saxena@nau.edu
Phone: (928) 523-6642
NAU profile
Google Scholar
PO Box 15018
School of Forestry
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Alark’s primary interests are in poverty alleviation, sustainability of natural resources and developing resilient communities. Alark uses an interdisciplinary approach to environmental problem solving. He has used a systems approach for developing novel techniques to evaluate resilience of local communities and model relationships between forests landscapes and rural communities.
Currently, Alark is working on measuring resilience of flood affected communities between India and Nepal, evaluating the impact of tourism on the natural and social systems in Sagarmatha National Park in Mt. Everest region in the Himalayas and developing an integrated landscape and livelihood management decision support system for forests in Turkey and India. Recently, Alark’s team has been awarded a 3 year long NASA project for identifying vulnerable communities living across Himalayas in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Current members
John (Jack) Burnett, M.F.
Barney Gregg, M.F.
Former graduate students (and current position)
- Ernawati Apriani, M.S. 2019. World Wildlife Fund for Nature – Indonesia
- Dyah Puspitaloka, M.S. 2018.Center for International Forestry Research
- Andika Putraditama, M.S. 2018. World Resource Institute
- Ryan Fitch, Ph.D. 2016. Assistant Professor of Practice, The W. A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University
- Jessica DeShazo, Ph.D. 2014. Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science. Cal State LA
- Tong Wu, M.S. 2011. Doctoral candidate, Arizona State University
- Evan Hjerpe, Ph.D. 2008. Executive Director, Conservation Economics
- Adcharaporn Pagdee, Ph.D. 2005. Professor, Khon Kaen University. Thailand
- Gustavo Perez-Verdin, Profesor, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, CIIDIR Durango, Mexico
Opportunities in the lab and at NAU
Dr. Saxena is inviting applications for a PhD student to begin in Fall 2020. The graduate fellow in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of foresters, ecologists and social scientists (Dr. Alark Saxena and Mr. Jonathan Martin, Dr. Pete Fule and Dr. Yeon-Su Kim), will support an innovative research that combines tree-rings based forestry science, historical bio-physical and socio-political research to understand the resilience of Navajo Nation. The fellowship includes a stipend ($26,666/Year for four years), tuition waiver, health insurance, and operations budget. The graduate student will receive a strong mentoring support from the team.