Presidential Professor of Sustainability Science

Biosketch

Having failed retirement, i have accumulated lots of titles including currently being a Senior Research Associate at Harvard, Presidential Professor of Sustainability Science at the U. Of Maine, and University Professor (Emeritus) at Brown University.  While I was trained as a geographer, I have  led interdisciplinary programs addressing hazards, climate, and adaptation  at the University of Dar as Salaam in Tanzania, Clark University, and the World Hunger Program at Brown University.   I also participated in all four IPCC Assessments, in the NRC Committee on Global Change, and in State of Maine climate advisory groups. Most of my publications are on my website at <rwkates.prg> and include studies on natural hazards (Burton, Kates, and White, 1978,1993), on climate impact assessment (Kates, Ausubel, Berberian, 1985), and on global change in local places (Association of American Geographers Global Change and Local Places Research Group, 2003). My most recent research is on reconstruction following hurricane Katrina and my current research is on enhancing community resilience to multiple hazards and adaptation to extreme climate change. I am a member of the National Academy of Sciences and recently served on the adaptation panel of the Academies' study of America's Climate Choices. Other service includes chairing the advisory group of the Maine Sustainability Solutions Initiative and addressing trash as a member of the Trenton solid waste committe.

Education

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