Directories

Dr. Smith focuses his research and teaching at the nexus of environment-technology-society relations. He has an interdisciplinary background, with particular expertise in management of water resources and "sustainability" praxis. His work incorporates a variety of modeling techniques, and investigation of underlying causes of changes in relations between humans and the environment utilizing political economy and political ecology approaches.

In industrialized settings he largely focuses on conservation and public participation to mitigate hazards and protect ecology and society. For example, Dr. Smith published a book, multiple book chapters, a piece with the World Health Organization, and articles, regarding the potential of water conservation rates and conservation technologies to support what is commonly referred to as "sustainable development."

In less-wealthy parts of the world his focus is on improving access to safe drinking water, geographic information systems, and environmental justice. For example, on the state scale, he worked in the Federated States of Micronesia on building the ability to perform spatial analysis, especially focusing on watersheds and coastal land use. Building on that research, Dr. Smith is now leading a project to build a nation-wide GIS focusing on biodiversity and climate change adaptation with The University of Iowa, Department of Geography, Queen's University of Charlotte, the UNLV Department of Environmental Science, and the Conservation Society of Pohnpei, Pohnpei State, in the Federated States of Micronesia.

On island and village scales, Dr. Smith researched ways to improve access to safe drinking water utilizing culturally, physically, and economically appropriate "low" water and sanitation technologies, environmental education, and public participation in watershed management. He has also conducted research in the Philippines on water privatization.

Other areas of research focus include renewable energy, impacts of free trade, environmental governance, climate change, stormwater management, biodiversity and small islands, with regional interests in the Pacific Islands and the Philippines.