By Jason M. Sheldon.
The research of Anita Morzillo, assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, incorporates the social sciences into natural resource management. She studies human dimensions of natural resources, a field that seeks to determine how people value, use and make decisions about the environment. Such knowledge may help to create open communication and facilitate effective planning and management by engaging the public and stakeholders in the decision-making process. Her work has primarily focused on wildlife, forests, water resources, urban ecosystems and outdoor recreation.
Dr. Morzillo uses an interdisciplinary approach, integrating areas such as landscape ecology, GIS, remote sensing and social psychology with the study of natural resource management. “My goal is to determine the factors that influence people in making decisions about natural resources,” she says. “There are many variables to tease apart and I enjoy the challenge of that.” Working at the crossroads of natural and social science disciplines necessitates partnerships, has lead Morzillo to numerous collaborations in other colleges, businesses and countries.
