Environment, Society & Sustainability Faculty

Education

PhD (1990) Geology and Geochemistry, MIT
SB (1984) Geology, MIT

Research Interests

Larry McKenna is Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at Framingham State University, where he is currently Chair of the Department of Environment, Society & Sustainability. McKenna trained as a geologist and geochemist at MIT, earning his Ph. D. in 1990 (when average surface temperatures were a full 1.2° Fahrenheit cooler than today!), and has been at FSU since 2008. He is currently finishing his climate change textbook, Conversations with the Earth, as an Open Educational Resource, part of FSUs NSF-funded ROTEL program. His current research interests center on the intersection between climate change, policy, and “agency,” the ability to affect one’s future. He notes, to his surprise, that when he first started working on climate change, the primary challenge was convincing people it was caused by human actions; now the primary challenge is convincing people it’s a problem that can be solved. When asked if there is one thing he wishes he could impart to everyone about climate change, he said, “Yes-there’s positive news here. We still have the power to stop the worst consequences of climate change. We have agency. And we can do it-we must do it-in our lifetimes.” McKenna and his wife live in Jamaica Plain, MA and have two smart, wonderful and mathematically inclined daughters.

Courses Taught

ASTR 128/218 Solar System Astronomy
EASC 101/201 Climate Change is Now: An Introduction to Earth Systems
EASC 118/228 Our Blue Planet: An Introduction to Oceanography
EASC 450 Seminar in Earth System Science
ENVS 202 Data Analysis for Scientists
ENVS 451/452 Senior Thesis in Environmental Science I/II
ENVS 333 Digital Field Work; Drones, Data and AI
GEOL 108/208 Physical Geology
GEOL 233 Environmental Geology
PHSC 109 Introduction to Physical Science
PHYS 201 Physics for Earth and Life Scientists
PHYS 211 Principles of Physics I
PHYS 212 Principles of Physics II
PHYS 272 Modern Physics

Education:

PhD (2011) Physics, University of Rhode Island
MS (2004) Electrical Engineering, University of Houston
BS (2002) Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Andhra University, India

Research Interests:

Dr. Adhibhatta is interested in enhancing students’ knowledge by using several practical approaches to learning at different levels.  She is particularly interested in adopting novel methods of teaching both in the lecture and laboratory, that makes Physics and Engineering fun and informative.

Courses taught:

ASTR 230  Stars and Galaxies
PHSC 109  Introduction to Physical Science
PHYS 212  Principles of Physics II
PHYS 201  Introductory Physics
EGNR 101  Introduction to Engineering
EGNR 201  Engineering Mechanics

Education:
PhD (2013) University of Connecticut
MA (2010) University of Connecticut
BA (2008) University of Connecticut

Research Interests:
Dr. Bentley's research interests include built environment transitions in post-industrial cities, urban analysis and geographic information systems, environmental-economic geography, and public health.

Courses Taught:
GEOG 101  Introduction to Human Geography
GEOG 110  World Regional Geography
GEOG 111  The Digital Earth and our Changing World
GEOG 201  Economic Geography
GEOG 214  Spatial Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 216  Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
GEOG 486  Senior GIS Project

Education

MS, Boston College
BS, Youngstown State University

Research Interests: 

Professor Campbell is a geologist by training, and teaches various Earth science classes here at FSU. She specializes in teaching the Introduction to Physical Geology class and lab components.

Courses Taught

EASC 101/201 Climate Change is Now: An Introduction to Earth Systems
EASC 118/228 Our Blue Planet: An Introduction to Oceanography
GEOL 108/208 Physical Geology

Education:
MS (1997) Astronomy, UMass Amherst
BS (1995) Physics, MIT

Research Interests:
Professor Chon is an astronomer by training, and teaches various physics and astronomy classes here at FSU. Her current research is focused on science education, with particular attention to student misconceptions. Additionally, she is very interested in science literacy and the use of planetariums in informal education, and is an active member of the planetarium community at the national level.

Courses Taught: 
ASTR 123  Practical Astronomy
ASTR 230  Stars and Galaxies
PHYS 211  Principles of Physics I
PHSC 109  Introduction to Physical Science
ASTR 130  The Search for Life in the Universe

Education:
PhD Geophysics, Indiana University-Bloomington
MSc Geophysics, Indiana University-Bloomington
Dipl R&D Management, University of the Philippines Open University
BS Geodetic Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman

Research Interests:
Dr. Galgana studies the deformation of the surface of the Earth and other planets (i.e., Plate Tectonics and Geodynamics). His favorite tools of the trade are satellite images and high-precision Global Positioning Systems, which are both used to map out and measure movements of the crust. Dr. Galgana models the Earth's dynamic processes in order to understand how these patterns relate to earthquakes and fault behavior, as well as how planetary volcano deformation patterns reflect what is going on underneath them and how edifices progressively evolved in time.

Courses Taught:
ASTR 128  Solar System Astronomy
ASTR 218  Principles of Solar System Astronomy

Education:

JD, New England School of Law
BS Biology, Framingham State College

Research Interests:

Professor Hakansson is an attorney whose areas of expertise include: environmental law, land use law, and over 25 years of experience working with Native American tribes regarding environmental and land use issues. His prior training and experience as a biologist allows for an interdisciplinary approach to sustainable environmental policies.

Courses Taught:

GEOG 110  World Regional Geography
GEOG 135  Introduction to Environmental Studies
GEOG 180  Native Americans: A Geographical and Legal Perspective
GEOG 235  Environmental Law and Policy
GEOG 240  Municipal Land Use
GEOG 375  Resource Management

Education:
PhD (2020) Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Boston
MS (2018) Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Boston
BS (2012) Biology, Bates College

Research Interests:
Dr. Johnston’s current research centers on paleoclimate reconstruction of the Gulf of Maine using archaeological mollusk shells. Variations in growth rate, stable isotopic, and trace elemental composition of bivalve shells can be used to reconstruct the past environmental conditions of the Gulf of Maine during the recent Holocene (past 5000 years).

Courses Taught:

EASC 101/201 Climate Change is Now: An Introduction to Earth Systems
EASC 118/228 Our Blue Planet: An Introduction to Oceanography
EASC 108/208 Understanding the Weather: Introduction to Meteorology
GEOL 233 Environmental Geology
PHSC 109 Introduction to Physical Science
RAMS 101 10 Ways the Earth Can Kill You
EASC 490 Independent Study in Earth System Science

Education:

PhD (2004) University of Connecticut
MA (2000) University of Connecticut
BA (1995) University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Research Interests:

David Merwin is a professor of geography and director of the university's Center for GIS Outreach (CGO). His expertise is in the fields of geographic information systems (GIS), spatial data science and remote sensing. As director of CGO, Dr. Merwin provides GIS assistance and outreach to the university community and coordinates GIS projects with local municipalities and non-profit organizations. Dr. Merwin also is a faculty representative on the university's Data Enrollment Team. Currently, Dr. Merwin is investigating the impact of land cover change in the olive-growing regions of northern Lebanon using remote sensing and machine learning.

Courses Taught:

GEOG 110  World Regional Geography
GEOG 214  Spatial Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 216  Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
GEOG 316  Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 328  Introduction to Remote Sensing

Education

PhD, Geography, University of Minnesota
MLA, Landscape Architecture, Harvard University
BA, Art and Biology, Williams College 

Research Interests

Dr. Otto's research focuses on urban sustainability; the spatial dimensions of economic sector growth and change; metropolitan governance; and transitions to capitalism and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe.

Courses Taught

ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy
ENVS 451 Research Capstone I
GEOG 165 Global Cities
GEOG 211 Cultural Geography
GEOG 222 Geographical Perspectives on Globalization
GEOG 251 Geography of New England
GEOG 260 Introduction to Urban Studies and Planning in the US
GEOG 380 Making Places Sustainable
GEOG 291 Western Regional Geography: Field Study

Education:

PhD, Louisiana State University
MSc, BSc, University of Delhi, India

Research Interests:

Dr. Singh’s background is in theoretical particle physics; she is interested in everything from quarks to planets to multiverses. For a decade her research focus has been on developing a transdisciplinary, justice-centered framework for teaching and conceptualizing climate change at the intersection of science, society and ethics. She has developed a case study for the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ STIRS (Scientific Thinking and Integrative Reasoning Skills) program on the impact of Arctic climate change on Alaskan Native communities, and has contributed to the National Academy of Sciences deliberations on interdisciplinarity in STEM. Dr. Singh is also a writer of speculative fiction and enjoys multiple genres of music.

Courses Taught:

PHYS 111 Physics, Nature, and Society
PHYS 201 Physics for Earth and Life Scientists
PHYS 211 Principles of Physics I
PHYS 212 Principles of Physics II
PHYS 272 Modern Physics
RAMS 101 Climate Change and Social Justice in the Arctic and Beyond

Education

BA Earth Sciences, Bridgewater State College  

Research Interests

Peter Hanley specializes in engineering project initiation, development, and implementation. Prior to his time at FSU, Peter worked as a principle researcher at the Gillette Co. and holds three U.S. patents.