The translation of scientific principles to policy—and furthering our understanding of humankind’s role in the Great Lakes ecosystem—is of utmost importance to researchers at the Great Lakes Research Center.
The Center houses a diverse set of social scientists, ranging in expertise from environmental history to sociology to economics to anthropology. Together with the talents of biophysical and biological researchers at the Center, we aim to understand the inherently complex issues surrounding the largest freshwater system on Earth.
We also focus tremendous efforts on community outreach and education programs, helping to educate the next generation of policy-makers and the general public about the wonders of the Great Lakes.
Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the Center, our team focuses on a wide set of topics. From analysis of multi-jurisdictional governance mechanisms to the evolution of shipping and port infrastructure to the role of information in water resource decision-making, our opportunities for research are endless.
William S. Breffle
- Associate Professor of Economics, School of Business and Economics
- 906-487-1959
- wsbreffl@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building G019
Teaching Interests
- Environmental economics
- Natural resource economics
- International economics
- Mathematical economics
- Principles of economics
Research Interests
- Non-market valuation
- Discrete choice modeling
- Benefit-cost analysis
- Restoration program planning
- Health economics
—Mary Durfee
Mary H. Durfee
- Professor Emerita
- 906-487-2112
- mhdurfee@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 216
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Great Lakes of North America
- International Law
- Malta
- Scholarship of Pedagogy
- Arctic Affairs
Hugh S. Gorman
- Department Chair, Social Sciences
- Professor of Environmental History and Policy, Social Sciences
- 906-487-2116
- hsgorman@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 215
Fields
- Environmental Policy and History
- History of Technology
- History of Science
- Economic History
Research Interests
- The historical interaction between technological change, uses of the environment, and systems of governance
- Adaptive governance
- Sustainable energy and environmental policy
Don Lafreniere
- Associate Professor of Geography and GIS
- Director, Historical Environments Spatial Analytics Lab
- Director, Geospatial Research Facility
- 906-487-2189
- djlafren@mtu.edu
- AOB 200A/GLRC 318
Research Interests
- Environmental Change and Life Course Epidemiology
- Urban Environments and Population Health
- PPGIS
- Applications of GIS for Historical Research
- Qualitative GIS
- Deindustrialization and Shrinking Cities
- Time-Space Integration and Modeling in GIS
- Demography and Historical Record Linkage
- Sense of Place and Neighborhood Construction
Nancy Langston
- Professor of Environmental History, Social Sciences
- Member of the Great Lakes Research Center
- Affiliated Professor, SFRES
- nelangs3@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 220
Areas of Interest
- Toxics, forested watersheds, and northern lakes
- Environmental history
- Watershed change and water quality
- Mining history
Carol A. MacLennan
- Professor of Anthropology, Social Sciences
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Environmental anthropology/political ecology
- Anthropology of industry (mining, sugar)
- Hawai`i and the Pacific
- Anthropology of public policy
Patrick E. Martin
- Research Professor of Archaeology
- 906-487-2070
- pemartin@mtu.edu
- Annex 205
Areas of Expertise
- Industrial archaeology
- Industrial heritage
- Historical archaeology
Audrey L. Mayer
- Professor of Ecology and Environmental Policy, SFRES
- 906-487-3448
- almayer@mtu.edu
- Noblet Building 145A
Links of Interest
- Private Land Management and Voluntary Incentive Programs project
- Sustainable Futures Institute
- Follow me on Twitter! @AudreyLMayer
Areas of Expertise
- Landscape ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Environmental and Natural Resources Policy
- Sustainability science
Mark D. Rouleau
- Associate Professor, Social Sciences
- 906-487-2039
- mdroulea@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 205
Research Interests
- Social simulation
- Agent-based modeling
- Land-use modeling
- Norm evolution
- Survey design
- International relations
—Sidney Verba
Adam M. Wellstead
- Associate Professor of Public Policy, Social Sciences
- 906-487-2115
- awellste@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 203
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Policy advisory systems
- Governance and political mechanisms
- Survey research
- Policy process frameworks
Areas of Interest
- Canadian Energy and Environmental Issues
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Oil Sands Development
- Forest Policy
- Canadian Studies
- Policy Innovation Labs
- Policy Design
Richelle L. Winkler
- Associate Professor of Sociology and Demography, Social Sciences
- 906-487-1886
- rwinkler@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 217
Areas of Expertise
- Rural Sociology
- Population and Environment
- Environmental Sociology
- Community Engaged Scholarship
- Internal Migration
- GIS and spatial analysis