Pontius, Robert

Pontius, Robert
Organization(s): 
Clark University

I am an environmental statistician who creates new quantitative methods for Land Change Science and Geographic Information Science (GIS), thus I incorporate my methods into Clark’s GIS software Idrisi. These methods help investigators to analyze Coupled Human and Natural Systems. For example, in the Plum Island Ecosystems of Massachusetts, I examine why humans fertilize & water their lawns, and how this influences watering bans and river pollution. In Puerto Rico, I examine why humans transform the surface of the land, and how this influences flooding and biodiversity in San Juan. Many investigators use my methods for carbon offset projects to manage greenhouse gas emissions from tropical forests. The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds most of my research, through the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program, the Urban Long Term Research Areas (ULTRA) program, and the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. I incorporate my Doctoral, Masters, and Bachelors students into my research, especially through Clark’s Human-Environment Research Observatory (HERO). Graduate students are the engines of these activities, and the Graduate School of Geography is constantly seeking applications from potential doctoral students, especially in the area of Geographic Information Science.

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