J. Anthony Abbott, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Chair of Geography

Director of Environmental Science

Stetson University

http://www.facebook.com/StetsonGES

 

 

Hollis Mentored Field Experience to PERU, Summer 2013

Tentative dates, May 12 -31, 2013. A small group of students will be selected for a completely funded trip to Peru under my guidance.

Flyer

Application (due January 10, 2013)

 

Education

Ph.D. University of Minnesota

M.A. University of Georgia

B.S. University of Georgia

 

Mail

Department of Geography and Environmental Science

421 N Woodland Blvd – Unit 8401

Stetson University

DeLand, FL 32723

 

Tel: (386) 822-7008

Fax: (386) 822-7328

Email: tabbott [at] stetson.edu

 

Walk-ins

Room 207 - Gillespie Museum

234 Michigan Ave

 

Research Interests (reprints sent on request CV)

Greenhouse Gas Auditing

Consensus on global warming has popularized accounting of greenhouse gas emissions. The American University and College Presidents Climate Commitment has sparked widespread participation in the endeavor, yet there are many undefined parameters for accounting GHG emissions. I work with students to quantify the GHG emissions of Stetson University to grasp the intricacies of operational GHG accounting. Beyond this I worked with student Kiryssa Kasprzyk to correlate the rigor of Campus Climate action plans with state policy as a proxy to illuminate the federal role in driving climate change policy among the states.

 

Eco-representations of Surfing

With student Lauren Hill, I have explored the potential of using political ecological theories to critique surf culture as environmental performance. Seemingly benign, surfing entails modes of consumption and natural domination in contradiction to environmental principles, and these characteristics are shared by other outdoor sports.

 

Public Opinion and Policy on Wind Power Facility Development in the Kittitas Valley, WA

The development of wind power facilities creates tensions and alliances among, home and landowners, state and county administrators, and environmentalists in myriad and surprising ways. Through an analysis of the permitting process for three separate wind power facilities in Central Washington, I illustrate the shifting and conditional conceptualizations of conservation to show how wildlife management areas are inordinately impacted by these facilities.

 

In Situ Conservation of Crop Biodiversity in Latin America

Through fieldwork conducted in Southern Ecuador in 1997-2000, I found that land tenure institutions, cultural preferences, and the influence of agricultural extension agencies can both positively and negatively influence farmers' decisions to plant landrace-bean varieties (Phaseolus vulgaris), as well as farm diversity at many other levels.

 

Living Shade and Passive Cooling of Suburban Homes in the South

Through fieldwork conducted in residential neighborhoods of Metro-Atlanta in 1992-1993, I quantified the energy conservation potential of shade trees for typical suburban homes in the South. Surprising results indicate that living shade plays a relatively small role in energy conservation for air-conditioning in modern, well-insulated homes. The implications for energy conservation programs based on the planting of living shade are significant with regards to cost-benefit analyses.

 

Transhumance in the Yakima Valley of Washington

I have done minor research on sheep herding in Central Washington State. This profession has historically been dominated by European migrants, but contemporary immigration and guest worker policy in the United States have encouraged a situation favoring South American workers from the Andes. I have examined the links between transnational migration and transhumance through ethnographic studies with the shepherds, presenting this work nationally at the annual meeting for the Association of American Geographers.

 

Courses Taught

GES 141P                 Earth Affecting People, w/ Lab

GES 204S                 Latin American Spaces and Places

GES 301                    Geographic Information Systems and Science

GES 302                    Field Methods

GES 303                    Environmental Science Seminar

GES 310R-JS           Cultural and Political Ecology

GES 312                    Biogeography

GES 315                    Sustainability Studies

GES 498/499            Senior Research Proposal/Project

Honors 101               Enduring Questions: What does it mean to live sustainably?

 

Professional Affiliations

Association of American Geographers (AAG)

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Cultural and Political Ecology Specialty Group of the AAG

Council of Latin Americanist Geographers

Energy and Environment Specialty Group of the AAG

Journal of Political Ecology

Latin American Specialty Group of the AAG

Latin American Studies Association

Society for Conservation Biology

 

Stetson University Affiliations

Environmental Science Program

Latin American Studies Committee

 

Opportunities for Students to Consider

AASHE Student Sustainability Leadership Award

Brower Youth Award

Merle Prunty Award of SEDAAG

National Geographic Internship

Udall Scholarship

NCSE Internship Clearinghouse