Martha Gwenn Bell

Martha Gwenn Bell is an Associate Professor in the Geography and Environment Section of the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP). She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on urban water systems, environmental history, climate change, and agrarian transformations in Latin America, particularly Peru and the Andes.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Geography, The Pennsylvania State University
• M.S. in Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• B.A. in Archaeology and Geology, Yale University

Her research interests include urban geography, environmental history, climate change adaptation, Andean agriculture, and historical water systems. She investigates how long-term infrastructural and colonial legacies shape contemporary climate vulnerabilities, especially in Lima’s water system. Her work bridges geography, archaeology, and sustainability studies.

Recent publications (2021–2025) reveal a strong thematic focus on agri-food systems in the context of climate change. Key areas include the expansion of greenhouse agriculture (the 'Plantationocene'), blueberry cultivation in the Andes, urban agriculture sustainability, and indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation. Her work often combines historical analysis with contemporary environmental challenges.

Scientific Awards and Fellowships:

• J. Warren Nystrom Award, American Association of Geographers
• Fulbright Fellowship
• National Science Foundation (USA) Fellowship
• European Science Foundation Fellowship
• Riva Agüero Institute Fellowship

Dr. Bell has been actively involved in research and teaching, mentoring students through thesis seminars and research workshops. She has taught courses such as Urban Geography, Workshop 9 and 10 in Architecture, and professional training seminars. While no specific grants are listed, her fellowship support indicates a strong record of external funding. She collaborates with researchers like Karl Zimmerer and contributes to interdisciplinary dialogues on sustainability and historical geography.

She is affiliated with research initiatives on urban water, climate resilience, and Andean environmental change, though no formal lab name is mentioned. Her work continues to explore the socio-ecological pathways of agrarian intensification and urban adaptation in the Global South.