Dr. Newton is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist who studies socio-environmental systems. His research focuses on two main areas: 1) conservation and sustainable development in tropical forests and 2) sustainable agriculture and food systems. Much of his research is interdisciplinary, systems oriented, and policy-relevant. He works principally in Brazil and the US, but his research has also taken him to Indonesia, Mozambique, Uganda, and Vietnam.
keywords
environmental governance, tropical forests, sustainable agriculture, sustainable development, deforestation, rural livelihoods, community based natural resource management, climate change mitigation, land use change, environmental studies, food systems
Teaching
courses taught
ENVM 6100 - Special Topics for Master of the Environment Program
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Summer 2022 / Spring 2024
A variety of topics not currently offered in curriculum; offered depending on instructor availability and student demand. May be repeated up to 18 total credit hours.
ENVS 1001 - Introduction to Human Dimensions of Environmental Studies
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Fall 2022
Examines the human dimensions of sustainability and environmental justice. Students examine a core set of human factors linked to the environment, including the production and use of knowledge, behavior, values, social movements, policy, market forces, and systems of power, exploitation, oppression, and inequality. Through hands-on activities, students learn how these factors impact and result from the human-environment interface. Students will build quantitative and writing skills to empirically study human dimensions of the environment.
ENVS 3525 - Intermediate Environmental Problem Analysis: Topical Cornerstones
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2022
Engages students in in-depth study of a topic such as climate change, energy, natural resources or sustainability. Through lectures, discussions, readings and activities, students will become conversant with how science, policy and values are integrated in environmental problem solving, and develop their own sense of how to critically engage with proposed solutions. Fulfills cornerstone requirement for Environmental Studies Major. Recommended prerequisite: ENVS 1000. Recommended corequisite: ENVS 3020. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.
ENVS 4100 - Special Topics in Environmental Studies
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Spring 2019
Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum: offered depending on student demand and specialties of faculty. Applied to specialization requirement for Environmental Studies major. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.
ENVS 4800 - Capstone: Critical Thinking in Environmental Studies
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2024
Examines a specific environmental topic in depth, synthesizing information from complex and controversial issues. Different course sections present different topics. Fulfills capstone requirement for Environmental Studies major. Recommended prerequisites: ENVS 1000 and ENVS 3020.
ENVS 4850 - ENVS Honors Thesis Research
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Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2023
To be taken in final academic year prior to graduation. Consists of honors research and thesis preparation under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Department enforced restriction: Requires a minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared ENVS major and approval by departmental honors committee.
ENVS 4950 - Seminar: ENVS Honors Thesis
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Spring 2021
Offers an opportunity for students who are either in the process of writing an Honors thesis, or are in the early process of conducting Honors research, to receive guidance on the process of thesis writing, evaluation and presentation of research results, and defending a thesis. Thesis requirements and the role of the A&S Honors Council will be discussed. Also offers the opportunity to hear practice defense talks from the graduating Honors candidates. Department enforced prerequisite: Requires a minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared ENVS major and approval by departmental honors committee.
ENVS 5000 - Policy, Science, and the Environment
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Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Introduction to methodologies of the policy sciences with emphasis on applications to environmental issues; role of science in decision making; professional roles and responsibilities as a policy analyst.
ENVS 5100 - Special Topics in Environmental Studies
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Spring 2019
A variety of topics not currently offered in curriculum; offered depending on instructor availability and student demand. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.
ENVS 6305 - Reducing the Environmental Impact of Food Systems: Evidence-Based Solutions
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021
Explores the evidence and ideas underlying some of the most important contemporary food system debates. We will ask: in enhancing the environmental sustainability of food systems, what do the data tell us about the roles that can be played by genetically engineered food, organic agriculture, local food systems, changes to animal agriculture, and reductions in food waste? Students will draw on peer-reviewed research to address the science, policy, and ethical dimensions of these topics.
