Mathew Hamilton
Associate Professor
320E Kottman Hall
2021 Coffey Rd.,
Columbus, OH
43210
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My research improves understanding of human-environment interactions in complex institutional settings, in which patterns of interactions among individual people, organizations, and decision-making processes influence the performance of environmental institutions, which in turn shape environmental outcomes.
In my research I explore questions such as: under what conditions can decision-making processes promote collaborative problem-solving at different administrative, spatial, and temporal scales? What factors shape the use of science in environmental decision-making? Under what conditions can biophysical connectivity (e.g., transmission of wildfire from one forested area to another) facilitate or impede collaborative interactions among resource users and other stakeholders? How can policy-makers constructively address conflict that stems from diverse perspectives on the factors that contribute to long-standing environmental governance challenges?
In this work, I draw upon tools and perspectives from policy, psychological, and environmental sciences, and I collaborative extensively with colleagues from diverse social and natural science backgrounds. My research also involves partnerships with natural resource management practitioners, extensionists, and members of other environmental stakeholder groups.
Department: School of Environment and Natural Resources