Adam Zwickle

Adam Zwickle is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He holds a joint appointment with the Environmental Science and Policy Program. His work as an interdisciplinary social scientist focuses on sustainable natural resource governance, risk perception and communication, and sustainability social science.

Dr. Zwickle's research expertise spans several key areas:

• Sustainable natural resource management and governance
• Environmental risk perception and communication
• Decision science and behavioral change
• Water management and governance
• Climate change policy and communication
• Collaborative governance approaches

His scholarly work demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach bridging social science theory with practical environmental applications. Recent publications reveal a focus on collaborative water management systems, psychological distance theory in climate communication, and environmental risk assessment in Michigan communities. Dr. Zwickle's research often employs community-based participatory methods and examines how environmental risk perceptions influence decision-making at both individual and policy levels. A notable trend in his recent work is the application of construal level theory to climate change communication and the exploration of structural fixes for sustainable resource management.

Dr. Zwickle has been involved in significant professional activities including leadership in global risk analysis at the SRA 2024 Annual Meeting. His research includes public reports such as 'Building Capacity for Collaborative Governance through a Participatory Modeling Approach – Water User Committees in Michigan' and the 'Michigan Large Quantity Water User Survey,' demonstrating his commitment to practical applications of his research.

As Graduate Program Director, Dr. Zwickle mentors graduate students and oversees academic programs. His collaborative research frequently involves partnerships with community stakeholders, particularly in Michigan communities affected by environmental contamination, reflecting his commitment to addressing real-world environmental challenges through academic research.