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.
- Associate Professor of Economics, College of Business
- wsbreffl@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1959
- Academic Office Building G019
Teaching Interests
- Environmental economics
- International economics
- Mathematical economics
- Principles of economics
Research Interests
- Non-market valuation
- Discrete choice modeling
- Benefit-cost analysis
- Environmental sustainability
—Mary Durfee
- Professor Emerita
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Great Lakes of North America
- International Law
- Malta
- Scholarship of Pedagogy
- Arctic Affairs
- Professor Emeritus of Environmental History and Policy
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
- Department Chair, Social Sciences
- Director, Geospatial Research Facility
- Associate Professor of Geography and GIS
- djlafren@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2189
- AOB 215 (Spring 23' Office Hours Tuesdays 9-11am)
Research Interests
- Environmental Change and Life Course Epidemiology
- Urban Environments and Population Health
- Public Participatory GIS
- Historical GIS & Deep Mapping
- Spatial Humanities
- Deindustrialization and Shrinking Cities
- Time-Space Integration and Modeling in GIS
- Demography and Historical Record Linkage
- Sense of Place and Neighborhood Construction
- Distinguished Professor of Environmental History, Social Sciences
- Affiliated Professor, CFRES
- nelangs3@mtu.edu
- AOB 220 (Spring 23' Office Hours Wednesdays 11am-1pm)
Areas of Interest
- Toxics, forested watersheds, and northern lakes
- Environmental history
- Watershed change and water quality
- Mining history
- Professor Emerita 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
- Professor Emeritus of Archaeology
- pemartin@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2070
- Annex 205
Areas of Expertise
- Industrial archaeology
- Industrial heritage
- Historical archaeology
- Associate Professor, Social Sciences
- mdroulea@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2039
- AOB 205 (Spring 23' Office Hours Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-12pm)
Research Interests
- Interdisciplinary studies
- Social simulation (agent-based modeling)
- Policy analysis
- International relations
- Sustainability assessment
- Complex adaptive systems
- Norm evolution and social influence
- STEM education evaluation
- Research design and methods
—Sidney Verba
- Professor of Public Policy, Social Sciences
- awellste@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2115
- Academic Office Building 227
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
- Professor of Sociology and Demography, Social Sciences
- Social Sciences Undergraduate Studies Director
- rwinkler@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1886
- AOB 217 (Spring 23' Office Hours Wednesdays 9:30-11:30am)
Areas of Expertise
- Rural Sociology
- Population and Environment
- Environmental Sociology
- Community Engaged Scholarship
- Internal Migration
- GIS and spatial analysis