Current Research
John Gowdy is currently researching Humans as an Ultrasocial Species, Valuation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Evolutionary Economics, Climate Change, Energy, Behavioral Economics and Public Policy, and Sustainability.
Recent Projects:
The Evolution of Human Ultrasociality – Much of my current research effort is with a major research project (with Lisi Krall – SUNY Cortland) on the evolution of ultrasociality in humans and social insects, and the implications for sustainability and social evolution. This work has been published in Ecological Economics (2013), theJournal of Bioeconomics (2014) and Behavioral and Brain Sciences (forthcoming target article in 2015). The next phase of this project will be to combine the insights from ultrasociality, behavioral science and ecosystem valuation to specific public policy cases.
Ecosystem Services in East Africa – Beginning in January 2014 I began a major study of the economic, cultural, and ecological importance of the Sudd Marsh, Southern Sudan. The Sudd is one of the largest fresh water marshes in the world and it plays a vital role in East Africa. I am the PI for this project, funded by UNEP through the Evolution Institute.
Evolution and Behavioral Economics – Funded by NESCent (National Evolutionary Synthesis Center) – PI for a project with the evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson for a two-year study group of biologists, economists and behavioral scientists exploring the integration of behavioral economics with evolutionary theory. An outcome of this project is a special issue of the Journal of Economic Behavior and Social Organization (July 2013). An extension of this project is a workshop sponsored by the Ernst Strüngmann Foundation on Complexity Economics, Frankfort Germany February 2015.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) – Member of an interdisciplinary team of biologists, ecologists, and economists, and lead Author for a report on the economic, social and environmental aspects of discounting ecosystem services. Funded by Deutsche Bank, European Union, the Government of Germany, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Biodiversity and Economics of the Mediterranean – Mediterranean Science Commission, Monaco. For the past year I have been involved in a study of the impact of invasive species (jellyfish) on the economies of several Mediterranean countries. Jellyfish are an indicator species of environmental disruption causes by a wide variety of human activities. An outcome of this project will be a special issue of the journalEcosystem Services (Spring 2015) exploring the role of ecosystem services in a variety of marine ecosystems.
Climate Change Policy – Garrison Institute, helped begin a project “Climate, Mind, and Behavior” exploring the implications of behavioral economics and neuroscience for climate change policy. Author of two working papers: “Behavioral Economics, Neuroeconomics, and Climate Change Policy: Baseline Review for the Garrison Institute Initiative on Climate Change Leadership” and “The Social Brain and the Diffusion of Pro-social Behavior”.
John Gowdy is currently researching Humans as an Ultrasocial Species, Valuation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Evolutionary Economics, Climate Change, Energy, Behavioral Economics and Public Policy, and Sustainability.
Recent Projects:
The Evolution of Human Ultrasociality – Much of my current research effort is with a major research project (with Lisi Krall – SUNY Cortland) on the evolution of ultrasociality in humans and social insects, and the implications for sustainability and social evolution. This work has been published in Ecological Economics (2013), theJournal of Bioeconomics (2014) and Behavioral and Brain Sciences (forthcoming target article in 2015). The next phase of this project will be to combine the insights from ultrasociality, behavioral science and ecosystem valuation to specific public policy cases.
Ecosystem Services in East Africa – Beginning in January 2014 I began a major study of the economic, cultural, and ecological importance of the Sudd Marsh, Southern Sudan. The Sudd is one of the largest fresh water marshes in the world and it plays a vital role in East Africa. I am the PI for this project, funded by UNEP through the Evolution Institute.
Evolution and Behavioral Economics – Funded by NESCent (National Evolutionary Synthesis Center) – PI for a project with the evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson for a two-year study group of biologists, economists and behavioral scientists exploring the integration of behavioral economics with evolutionary theory. An outcome of this project is a special issue of the Journal of Economic Behavior and Social Organization (July 2013). An extension of this project is a workshop sponsored by the Ernst Strüngmann Foundation on Complexity Economics, Frankfort Germany February 2015.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) – Member of an interdisciplinary team of biologists, ecologists, and economists, and lead Author for a report on the economic, social and environmental aspects of discounting ecosystem services. Funded by Deutsche Bank, European Union, the Government of Germany, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Biodiversity and Economics of the Mediterranean – Mediterranean Science Commission, Monaco. For the past year I have been involved in a study of the impact of invasive species (jellyfish) on the economies of several Mediterranean countries. Jellyfish are an indicator species of environmental disruption causes by a wide variety of human activities. An outcome of this project will be a special issue of the journalEcosystem Services (Spring 2015) exploring the role of ecosystem services in a variety of marine ecosystems.
Climate Change Policy – Garrison Institute, helped begin a project “Climate, Mind, and Behavior” exploring the implications of behavioral economics and neuroscience for climate change policy. Author of two working papers: “Behavioral Economics, Neuroeconomics, and Climate Change Policy: Baseline Review for the Garrison Institute Initiative on Climate Change Leadership” and “The Social Brain and the Diffusion of Pro-social Behavior”.