Environmental Change
Scientists in the SPE program study multiple different dimensions of environmental change, always focusing on connections to the human population. These include consumption practices, land use/land cover, biodiversity, vegetation and invasive species, and endangered animal species and their habitats.

Key Projects

New Data Dissemination for Comparative Population Science
R03 HD092516.   NIH/NICHD.   2017-2019.   $155,583.
Key Personnel: William G. Axinn, PI, Dirgha J. Ghimire, Co-I.

CNH: Feedbacks Between Human Community Dynamics and Socio-ecological Vulnerability in a Biodiversity Hotspot
BCS 1211498.   NSF.   2012-2017.   $664,318.
Key Personnel: Scott T. Yabiku, PI, Dirgha J. Ghimire, MI Subcontract PI.

Key Recent Publications

  1. Brauner-Otto, Sarah R., and William G. Axinn. 2017. “Natural Resource Collection and Desired Family Size: A Longitudinal Test of Environment-population Theories.” Population and Environment 38(4):381-406. DOI. PMC5608093.

  2. An, Li, Alex Zvoleff, Jianguo Liu, and William G. Axinn. 2014. “Agent-Based Modeling in Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS): Lessons from a Comparative Analysis.” Annals of the Association for American Geographers 104(4):723-745. DOI.

  3. Carter, Neil H., Andrés Viña, Vanessa Hull, William McConnell, William G. Axinn, Dirgha J. Ghimire, and Jianguo Liu. 2014. “Coupled Human and Natural Systems Approach to Wildlife Research and Conservation.” Ecology and Society 19(3):43. DOI.

  4. Piotrowski, Martin, Dirgha J. Ghimire, and Ronald R. Rindfuss. 2013. “Farming Systems and Rural Out-Migration in Nang Rong, Thailand and Chitwan Valley, Nepal.” Rural Sociology 78(1):75-108. DOI. PMC3963478.

  5. Link, Cynthia F., William G. Axinn, and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 2012. “Household Energy Consumption: Community Context and Fuelwood Transition.” Social Science Research 41:598-611. DOI. PMC3461177.

  6. Axinn, William G., and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 2011. “Social Organization, Population, and Land Use.” American Journal of Sociology 117(1):209-258. DOI. PMC3162250.

  7. Axinn, William G., Jennifer S. Barber, and Ann E. Biddlecom. 2010. “Social Organization and the Transition from Direct to Indirect Consumption.” Social Science Research 39:357-368. DOI. PMC2877213.

  8. Ghimire, Dirgha J., and William G. Axinn. 2010. “Community Context, Land Use and First Birth.” Rural Sociology 75(3):478-513. DOI. PMC2945390.

  9. Massey, Douglas S., William G. Axinn, and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 2010. “Environmental Change and Out-Migration: Evidence from Nepal.” Population and Environment 32(2):109-136. DOI. PMC3042700.

  10. Shrestha, Binoj K., Dirgha J. Ghimire, and Dharma Raj Dangol. 2009. “Lahare Banmara (Mikania micrantha) ko Atikraman; Badhdo Chunauti.” Paryabaran 89:26-30.

  11. Ghimire, Dirgha J., and Lynette F. Hoelter. 2007. “Land Use and First Birth Timing in an Agricultural Setting.” Population and Environment 28(6):289-320. DOI.

  12. Biddlecom, Ann E., William G. Axinn, and Jennifer S. Barber. 2005. “Environmental Effects on Family Size Preferences and Subsequent Reproductive Behavior in Nepal.” Population and Environment 26(3):583-621. DOI.

  13. Ghimire, Dirgha J., and Paul Mohai. 2005. “Environmentalism and Contraceptive Use: How People in Less Developed Settings Approach Environmental Issues.” Population and Environment 27(1):29-61. DOI.

  14. Axinn, William G., and Jennifer S. Barber. 2003. “Linking People and Land Use: A Sociological Perspective.” Pp. 285-313 in People and the Environment, edited by J. Fox, R.R. Rindfuss, S. Walsh, and V. Mishra. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

  15. Barber, Jennifer S., Ann E. Biddlecom, and William G. Axinn. 2003. “Neighborhood Social Change and Perceptions of Environmental Degradation.” Population and Environment 25(2):77-108. DOI.

  16. Shivakoti, Ganesh P., William G. Axinn, Prem B. Bhandari, and Netra Chhetri. 1999. “The Impact of Community Context on Land Use in an Agricultural Society.” Population and Environment 20(3):191-213. DOI.

  17. Axinn, William G., and Ganesh P. Shivakoti. 1997. “Demographic Issues and the Use of Natural Resources.” Pp. 83-85 in People, Participation, and Sustainable Development: Understanding the Dynamics of Natural Resource Systems, edited by Shivakoti et al. Bloomington, Indiana and Rampur, Chitwan: Winrock International.