Knuth, Barbara A

Professor

Barbara Knuth joined the Department of Natural Resources in 1986, in the area of Natural Resource Policy and Management. She is Co-leader of the Human Dimensions Research Unit in the Department of Natural Resources, focusing on inquiry to (1) improve understanding of human attitudes and behaviors related to natural resources and the environment; and (2) foster integration of social and ecological information in natural resources and environmental management decision-making processes.

research

research and scholarship focus

My current research examines (1) risk perception, communication, and management focused on fisheries affected by chemical contaminants; (2) community-based natural resource management approaches; and (3) factors influencing human stewardship and use of natural resources, particularly fish and wildlife.

primary investigator of

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE | Research Grant
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH USDA FOREST SERVICE - FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST | Research Grant

co investigator of

HUMAN RESPONSES TO VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA VIRUS IN THE GREAT LAKES: IMPLICATIONS FOR AGENCY COMMUNICATION | Research Grant

research areas

environmental sciences | collaborative research area (CALS)
natural resources | collaborative research area (CALS)
resource policy and management | collaborative research area (CALS)
risk analysis and assessment | collaborative research area (CALS)
water resource management | collaborative research area (CALS)
wildlife management | collaborative research area (CALS)

submitted impact statement

Health Risks and Health Benefits Associated with Eating Farmed and Wild Salmon | 2005 Impact statement
Contaminants in farmed Atlantic salmon: A global issue. | 2004 Impact statement

affiliations

member of graduate field

Natural Resources | graduate field
Public Affairs | graduate field

other Cornell affiliations

Center for the Environment (CFE) | former research center
University Diversity Council | committee

administrative responsibilities

Senior Associate Dean, CALS

member of advisory group

Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future (CCSF) | research and educational resource center

teaching

teaching focus

I teach an experiential course in environmental and natural resource policy processes. The course requires students to design, conduct, and complete a relatively independent policy analysis research project.

teaches

NTRES 4970 - Individual Study in Environmental Science and Resource Policy (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
NTRES 6970 - Graduate Individual Study in Natural Resources (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
NTRES 7900 - Graduate-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
NTRES 8900 - Master's Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
NTRES 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
NTRES 4300 - Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Processes (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
NTRES 4970 - Individual Study in Environmental Science and Resource Policy (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
NTRES 6970 - Graduate Individual Study in Natural Resources (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
NTRES 7900 - Graduate-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
NTRES 8900 - Master's Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
NTRES 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class

service

outreach focus

Outreach activities focus primarily on advising state, national, and international environmental and natural resource management agencies, and scientific organizations, on issues related to my areas of research expertise, and on planning and decision-making processes. See list of advisory boards, and list of consulting activities.

background

educational background

Ph.D., Virginia Tech, 1986
M.En., Miami University, 1982
B.Phil., Miami University, 1980
B.A., Miami University, 1980

featured in

Stick to wild salmon unless heart disease is a risk factor, risk/benefit analysis of farmed and wild fish shows | Cornell Chronicle feature

publications

selected publications (listing in progress)

Kretser, H.E., P.J. Sullivan, and B.A. Knuth. 2008. Housing density as an indicator of spatial patterns of reported human-wildlife interactions in Northern New York. Landscape and Urban Planning 84:282-292.
Knuth, B.A., and W.F. Siemer, editors. 2007. Aquatic Stewardship Education in Theory and Practice. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 55, Bethesda, MD.
Lauber, T.B., B.A. Knuth, J.A. Tantillo, and P.D. Curtis. 2007. The role of ethical judgments related to wildlife fertility control. Society and Natural Resources 20(2):119-133.
Gore, M.L., B.A. Knuth, P.D. Curtis, and J.E. Shanahan. 2007. Factors influencing risk perception associated with human-black bear conflict. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 12:89-100.
Gore, M.L., B.A. Knuth, P.D. Curtis, and J.E. Shanahan. 2006. Education programs for reducing American black bear-human conflict: Indicators of success? Ursus 17(1):75-80.
Cordova, A., and B.A. Knuth. 2005. Barriers and strategies for dry sanitation in large-scale and urban settings. Urban Water Journal 2(4):245-262.
Zanetell, B.A., and B.A. Knuth. 2004. Participation rhetoric or community-based management reality? Influences on willingness to participate. World Development 32(5):793-807.
Hites, R.A., J.A. Foran, D.O. Carpenter, M.C. Hamilton, B.A. Knuth, and S.J. Schwager. 2004. Global assessment of organic contaminants in farmed salmon. Science 303:226-229.
Knuth, B.A., N.A. Connelly, J. Sheeska, and J. Patterson. 2003. Weighing health benefits and health risk information when consuming sport-caught fish. Risk Analysis 23(6):1185-1197.

Keywords: community-based natural resource management, human dimensions of natural resource management, natural resource management, natural resources policy, natural resources policy and management, program evaluation, risk communication, risk management, risk perception