Joshua Newell

Joshua Newell is a Professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan, currently on sabbatical for the 2024-2025 academic year. His work bridges human-environment geography, urban sustainability, and industrial ecology, focusing on environmental justice and sustainable urban systems.

• PhD in Geography, University of Washington
• MA in Geography, University of Washington
• BA in History, Brown University

Newell's research explores two core areas: Metabolisms of Urban Infrastructure and Form (built environment, transport, energy, and water infrastructure) and "Ethical" Urban Consumption and Commodities (governance of product consumption and global 'green' citizenship). He employs multi-scalar approaches integrating industrial ecology (footprinting, life-cycle analysis) and spatial analysis (land use/land cover change).

Recent publications highlight his focus on urban metabolism modeling, climate change denial geographies, food-energy-water nexus analysis, and environmental justice in urban agriculture and resource distribution. His work has received significant NSF funding, including projects like the FEW-Meter and the Sustainability Hoofprint of Cities.

• Web of Science Highly Cited Paper (Top 1% of Social Sciences, 2019)

Newell leads the Urban Sustainability Research Group and contributes to interdisciplinary PhD workshops on urbanism, sustainability, and resilience. His teaching includes the undergraduate course Sustainability and Society and graduate-level Urban Sustainability.