Timothy Downs

Timothy Downs is a Professor in Sustainability and Social Justice at Clark University, specializing in environmental science and engineering with over 30 years of field experience. He leads collaborative projects in climate justice, focusing on human-environment interactions, health equity, and interdisciplinary solutions. His current NSF-funded PIRE project in Central Mexico co-creates a Regional Climate Change Atlas with local communities and UNAM, exploring climate adaptation scenarios using Virtual Reality. Downs also teaches courses like Sustainable Development Assessment and Climate Change & Health, emphasizing practicum-based learning.

Educations:

• PhD in Environmental Science, UCLA, 1998
• MS in Ocean Engineering, University of Hawaii, 1990
• B.S. in Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, 1984

Research Focus:

Downs investigates climate justice, water-resource management, and community-driven solutions to environmental challenges. His work spans Mexico, Africa, and the U.S., emphasizing stakeholder collaboration and integrating Indigenous knowledge. Recent projects include assessing manganese contamination in Massachusetts and analyzing land-use changes in Mexico's Lerma-Cutzamala Basin.

Grants & Collaborations:

• NSF PIRE Grant (2023–2026): Co-creating Climate Resilience Education
• UNAM Collaboration Convention (2023): Joint research and education on climate change
• NIEHS Grant (2005–2009): Worcester Built Environment Vulnerability Study

Labs & Teams:

He leads multidisciplinary teams at Clark and UNAM, involving students in fieldwork and policy advocacy. Notable outputs include the Climate Atlas project and participatory water-quality monitoring initiatives.