Andrew Pattison

Background

About Andrew Pattison

My research and teaching interests include subnational climate policy and planning, environmental politics, policy learning and narratives, wilderness and social-ecological systems management, and the role of science in the policy process. In terms of methods, I have used quantitative analysis of local and national scale carbon emission inventories and survey data, as well as qualitative analysis of policy documents and field interviews. I have also used natural language processing and machine learning to analyze policy narrative strategies within large datasets of social media use. My most recent project is an interdisciplinary analysis of wilderness and land management policies in a national park in Baja California, Mexico, which involved multiple field visits and dozens of interviews with park managers and local community members. My research has appeared in many peer-reviewed journals and books, and my current projects include an examination of NY climate policy interactions at the state and local government levels and an exploration of comparative conceptualizations of wilderness and management of national parks in the US, Mexico, Australia, and Nepal. I am also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences and am part of The Scholars Strategy Network, which works to provide jargon-free research on the nation’s most challenging policy problems. Previously, I worked as a climate and sustainability analyst and planner, and have also served in City Council- and Governor-appointed governmental positions and on the board of directors for multiple nonprofit organizations related to environmental policy, environmental education, civic engagement, and housing. I integrate community-based research into my classes whenever possible. My Colgate University courses include Sustainability & Climate Action Planning, Environmental Policy Analysis, US Environmental Politics, Conservation Biology & Policy, Community-based Study of Environmental Issues, and Wilderness.