Science-Community Partnerships
I am Co-PI with the Greenland Hazards Project, which is funded through the National Science Foundation's Navigating the New Arctic initiative to map geophysical change along Greenland's coasts. As the project’s social scientist, I study science-community collaboration in Greenland. Scientists are increasingly encouraged to build relationships with community members where research sites are deployed. Challenges often emerge that can hinder the effectiveness of these partnerships. For example, the difference in priorities and goals between scientists and community needs can lead to potential misalignment in project objectives. Furthermore, organizational structures within scientific institutions can create rigid frameworks that do not easily accommodate the flexible and adaptive approaches typically found in community initiatives. These challenges necessitate careful planning and ongoing dialogue to foster productive and meaningful collaboration.
Labor-Environment Relations
My research also explores labor-environment relations in carbon-dependent economies and the implications of fossil fuel operations for work, identity, public health, and natural environments. Integrating in-depth interviews, participant observation, and media analysis, my work draws from qualitative fieldwork in communities negatively impacted by oil and gas industries.
My writing has appeared in journals such as Environmental Communication and Sustainability, and I am co-editor of the volume, Pipeline Pedagogy: Teaching about Energy and Environmental Justice Contestations (2021, AESS Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies and Sciences Series).