Eric W. Welch

Eric W. Welch is a Professor and Director of the Center for Science, Technology & Environmental Policy Studies (CSTEPS) at Arizona State University's School of Public Affairs. He also serves as a Senior Global Futures Scientist in ASU's Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and maintains affiliations with multiple research centers including the Institute for Social Science Research, Center on Technology, Data and Society, Center for Organization Research and Design, and the Sweete Center for Sustainable Food Systems.

Professor Welch earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1997, with specializations in science and technology policy and environmental policy and administration. He also holds an M.A. in International Studies and Asian Studies from the University of Oregon (1991) and a B.A. in History from the University of Washington (1985).

His research focuses on climate change adaptation, science and technology policy, technological innovation, and public management. Welch has 25 years of experience evaluating large multi-institutional research projects for organizations including USAID, UN FAO, NIH, and NSF EPSCoR. Current projects include leading a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded international team studying climate change adaptation finance in Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, and Kenya, and collaborating with CIRAD France and UN FAO on science policy interfaces for agrifood systems.

• Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
• Science and Technology Policy
• Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems
• Genetic Resources Policy
• Organization Design and Management
• Social Network Analysis

With over 150 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Social Science and Humanities (Nature), Social Networks, Global Food Security, and Research Policy, Welch's recent work demonstrates increasing focus on climate change adaptation in public organizations, science-policy interfaces, and the role of meso-level organizations in amplifying climate finance. His publications reveal a strong interdisciplinary approach connecting public administration, environmental policy, and science studies.

• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• United States Geological Survey (USGS)
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
• United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO)

As director of CSTEPS, Welch oversees two long-term survey-based studies: the Technology in Government Survey and the Transit Adaptation to Climate Change Survey. He also leads the Scientist Panel Opinion Survey (SciOPS), designed to bridge communication gaps between science and society by aggregating scientific expertise opinions.