معرفی
Michael Bauer serves as Adjunct Faculty at Naropa University within the Environmental Studies department of the College of Arts and Sciences. He arrived at Naropa in January 2018 as the university's first Director of Sustainability and has since transitioned to become the Director of the Joanna Macy Center for Resilience and Regeneration. Bauer teaches COR222 Sustainability Seminar: Regenerative Community in Action and is deeply committed to climate neutrality and ecological justice initiatives across campus.
- MS Civil Engineering
- BA Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Sociology
- BA Environmental Studies
Bauer's research focuses on developing novel solutions in humanitarian engineering, regenerative agriculture, and climate mitigation strategies that address entrenched challenges of poverty and community resilience. His work emphasizes systems design rooted in parity and justice, particularly how marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by environmental issues. He has extensive experience in sustainability program design, impact evaluation, and stakeholder engagement across academic and public sector contexts.
His publications in Procedia Engineering, Coastal Transitions, and the Athens Journal of Education reflect his commitment to appropriate technology for vulnerable communities. Notably, his research trajectory shows a consistent focus on community-centered approaches to sustainability, moving from engineering solutions to more holistic frameworks integrating contemplative practices and social justice objectives to address climate challenges.
Bauer has presented original research at the Humanitarian Technology conference of MIT and has worked extensively with community organizations like Revision.org in Denver's Westwood neighborhood to implement practical sustainability projects. His teaching and research demonstrate a clear progression from technical engineering solutions toward integrative approaches that combine sustainability, contemplative practice, and social justice.
- Director of Sustainability at Naropa University (2018-present)
- Engineering faculty at Metropolitan State University of Denver (3.5 years)
- Visitor Studies Specialist at Boulder County Parks & Open Space (8 years)
Bauer co-founded the Bike Shack, Naropa's student-led bike maintenance program, and has been instrumental in advancing the university's climate action goals, including waste diversion (over 80% from landfills), renewable energy initiatives, and sustainable transportation programs. His current work focuses on developing a new model for deep community resilience that integrates sustainability, contemplative practice, and social justice objectives.
