Brian G. McAdoo

Brian G. McAdoo is an Associate Professor and the Truman and Nellie Semans/Alex Brown & Sons Professor of Sustainability Science Bass Chair at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. He serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Earth & Climate Sciences. His research focuses on understanding how natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides, and deforestation impact marginalized communities, applying a Planetary Health framework to enhance resilience and reduce environmental suffering. His work spans Nepal, Borneo, and Brazil, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental and social challenges.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz (2000)
• B.S., Duke University (1991)

Research Interests: McAdoo investigates the intersection of geohazards, human-environment systems, and community resilience. Key areas include disaster risk reduction, climate change impacts, and ecosystem services. He advocates for co-creation of solutions with affected communities to address environmental injustices and psychosocial recovery.

Recent Grants:

• IUCRC Planning Grant for the Center for Innovation in Risk-analysis for Climate Adaptation and Decision-making (CIRCAD), funded by the National Science Foundation.

Awards:

• 2025 Bass Society of Fellows Honors for Teaching and Research Excellence.

Advising & Labs: Directs undergraduate studies and leads the PlanetLab research group. Collaborates with global teams on projects like disaster simulations in Hong Kong and sustainable tourism in the Himalayas.