Fischer, Paige

The goal of my research is to increase scientific understanding of human behavior as it relates to the sustainability of socio-ecological systems. I investigate factors that enable and constrain human mitigation of and adaptation to risks associated with natural hazards and climate change. I am particularly interested in understanding what motivates individuals (e.g., private landowners) and organizations (e.g., natural resource agencies and environmental organizations) to cooperate on natural resource management and environmental conservation. I draw on theories from the fields of rural sociology, human geography and ecology in my work. My methods include qualitative interview analysis, quantitative survey analysis and social network analysis. I collaborate with researchers from diverse disciplines using a broad range of analytical approaches and strive to address problems of concern to local practitioners.