James Abbott

Areas of Expertise:

Sub-Saharan Africa, artisanal fishing livelihoods, highly variable environments.

Education:

2005 – Ph.D. in Environmental Studies, Duke University
1996 – M.Sc. in Tropical Coastal Management, University of Newcastle-on-Tyne
1994 – B.Sc. in Marine Biology, Dalhousie University

Research:

Dr. Abbott’s research interests concern livelihoods in highly variable natural and social environments.  He has conducted research in a floodplain area shared by four countries in sub-Saharan Africa, examining the changing role that fishing plays for inhabitants.  He is also interested in broader issues of natural resource management, both in Africa and elsewhere.

He teaches the following courses: GUS/ENV CO50/HO90 “Environment and Society,” "Urban Sustainability,” "Political Ecology," and "African Development" and "Hazards Geography."