Sociologist selected to serve on global change committee

Eugene A. Rosa, Edward R. Meyer Professor of Natural Resource & Environmental Policy at Washington State University, has accepted an invitation from The National Academies to serve as a member of the Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change of the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences.

Rosa’s appointment was based on his research contributions to further the understanding of the human factors in global environmental impacts and his contributions to environmental science policy.

The goal of Rosa’s committee is to guide research in the United States on the interactions between human activity and global environmental change. Among other activities the committee advises the National Science Foundation’s policy science program on global change issues and its input to the International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Research Programme (IHDP).

Rosa has previously held numerous appointments with U.S. National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences and earlier this year accepted an appointment to that group’s Committee on Metrics for Global Change Research.  According to Greg Hooks, Chair of WSU’s Department of Sociology, “Rosa’s work on these and other committees brings visibility to the university and points to the quality of our faculty.  These contributions also provide evidence of the societal benefits of this research university.”

Rosa, a professor of Sociology, is also and an Affiliated Professor of Environmental Science and an Affiliated Professor of Fine Arts at Washington State.

Rosa, and two colleagues, Professors Richard York (University of Oregon), and Thomas Dietz (Michigan State University), received the Distinguished Publication Award last month from the American Sociological Association Section on Environment and Technology. According to the award selection committee, “Rosa, York, and Dietz’s work in peer reviewed scholarly journals over the past two years show an excellent command of modern social theories in environmental sociology, sophisticated, state-of-the-art statistical analysis, and clearly stated implications of findings for social theory and for environmental policy.” The three were lauded for their research productivity, their consistent wedding of social theory and empirical research, the professional visibility of their scholarship, and the path breaking nature of their work.

Rosa’s publication honor was awarded at the ASA national conference. The Department of Sociology at Washington State University was further distinguished at the conference when it was selected to receive the 2004 DuBois-Johnson-Frazier Award, marking the first time the award has been presented to a department rather than an individual. “We are deeply honored to be selected to receive this award and will strive to build on the legacy of excellence it recognizes,” said Hooks.