Mary Ann Cunningham
My recent work has focused on two themes relating to climate change impacts and mitigation. First, using spatial data and modeling (GIS), I have studied how climate change is likely to affect agricultural systems and biodiversity. Second,to understand how we can mitigate change, not just worry and watch its impacts, I have increasingly focused on renewable energy systems and their rapid evolution. This theme addresses both climate anxiety and recent policy incentives that promote renewables and climate protection.
This work has evolved from my earlier concerns about landscape change and environmental impacts. Landscape change and climate change are both key drivers of change in environmental quality and biodiversity, and as a geographer, I am interested in understanding both the dynamic of changes and the policy contexts that drive those changes. In that context, my earlier work focused on landscape-scale impacts of agricultural policy and agricultural expansion on avian biodiversity (which involved field bird surveys), as well as suburban expansion and its impacts on water quality and biodiversity. Throughout these themes, I am motivated to understand environmental change, to learn new approaches in GIS analysis, and to help students gain useful knowledge and skills for environmental research. To learn more, see this link.
Most of my research and teaching involve aspects of environmental mapping and analysis. My recent work has focused on climate change impacts, especially impacts on agricultural systems and biodiversity. Following from this interest in climate change impacts, I have increasingly focused on the chief mitigation strategy: renewable energy systems.Studying and teaching renewable energy not only helps address the central issue of our time, it also helps empower students to see their role in fixing it.
This work has evolved from my earlier concerns about landscape change and environmental impacts. Landscape change and climate change are both key drivers of change in environmental quality and biodiversity, and as a geographer, I am interested in understanding both the dynamic of changes and the policy contexts that drive those changes. In that context, my earlier work focused on landscape-scale impacts of agricultural policy and agricultural expansion on avian biodiversity (which involved field bird surveys), as well as suburban expansion and its impacts on water quality and biodiversity. Throughout these topics, I am motivated to understand environmental change, to explore new approaches in GIS analysis, and to help students gain useful knowledge and skills for environmental research .
Teaching
My recent courses have included seminars on Renewable Energy and Climate Action (GEOG 340), and Renewable Energy in Germany (ENST 260), as well as my staple courses in GIS: GIS and Spatial Analysis (GIS, GEOG 224) and Cartography and Spatial Data Visualization (GEOG 220), I also teach Geographies of Food and Farming (GEOG 256), which integrates geographical and policy issues surrounding food production and its social impacts.
Writing
Closely tied to my teaching and research interests are my work as author of two regularly updated textbooks in environmental science: Environmental Science: a Global Concern, and Principles of Environmental Science. Our aim with these books is to give students access to ideas about how science is used to examine and ideally to resolve environmental problems, as well as how human, cultural, and political factors give nuance to environmental issues and solutions. Ideas from these books are informed by, and used in, all of my teaching and research activities.
Research and Academic Interests
Geography
Departments and Programs
Courses
ENST/ESCI/GEOG 340 Advanced Urban and Regional Studies
ESCI/GEOG 220 Cartography: Spatial Data Visualization with GIS
In the Media
Photos
Download images for non-commercial use, photo credit required.
