College of Liberal Arts

Department of Sociology

Eugene (Gene) Rosa

Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professor Ph.D., Syracuse, 1976

Areas of Research Interest: Environmental Sociology, Risk, Technology

Current Research Interests: My overarching research interest is driven by the question: Can societies survive the impacts imposed on their environments by human activities? I attempt to research this question in two complementary ways, one through the big picture (macro in the language of sociology) and one through the small picture of human perception and action (micro). The big picture approach has involved the development over the past decade (in collaboration with colleagues and students) of a simple statistical model that we use to uncover the key human activities that are producing undesirable environmental impacts on a global level. The small picture approach has been a focus on the question of risk, meaning to assess the degree of uncertainty and consequences of human choices, especially technological choices. A complement to this risk research is research that seeks to develop more effective forms of democracy for managing technological and environmental risks.

Recent Publications:

"Footprints on the Earth: The Environmental Consequences of Modernity." American Sociological Review, 2003.

"Some Principles for Siting Controversy Decisions: Lessons from the U.S. Experience with High-Level Nuclear Waste." Journal of Risk Research, 2003.

Risk, Uncertainty, and Rational Action. London: Earthscan Press. 2001.

 
Email: rosa@wsu.edu
Phone: 509.335.4163
Office: Wilson Hall 215
Curriculum Vitae
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