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  Sustainability Science Lab

People

Research Team

Damon Hall
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Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Assistant Professor, Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Affiliated Faculty, Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Co-Director, the Missouri Water Center
Coordinator, Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability 

My research examines the interactions between social and ecological systems where science, policy, and culture meet. My research is audience-focused addressing questions of how to make usable knowledge for sustainable transitions. My research is transdisciplinary in that it engages stakeholders, managers, and scientists to design transformational solutions that make sense to how people—whose behavior is the target of policy—commonly experience their world. 

I completed a PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences as a Boone & Crockett PhD Fellow in Conservation Policy at Texas A&M University. My dissertation research was sponsored by the US Army Corps of Engineers and involved in-depth social field research to understand riverfront landowners’ perceptions of federal, state, and local riparian management on the Yellowstone River in Montana. I hold a MA in Communication and a BS in Agriculture concentrating on Forestry and Natural Resources both from Purdue University. I was a National Science Foundation-supported Sustainability Science Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Maine's Sustainability Solutions Initiative directed by David Hart and chaired by Robert W. Kates. Following the Postdoc, I was Assistant Professor at Saint Louis University in the Center for Sustainability and Biology Department. I joined the University of Missouri as a part of the "Pillars of Pursuit" cluster hire under 
Sustainability inFEWSed (Food, Energy, Water, Smart Cities) in 2018.

Teaching:
Graduate Degree Emphasis Areas: 
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources; Water Resources; Parks, Recreation, & Tourism 
Undergraduate Degree Emphasis Areas: Environmental Sciences; Natural Resource Science & Management 
Certificate Coordinator for the Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability 

Links:
Faculty Page
GoogleScholar
ResearchGate
Loop
​OrchidID
Angela Catalano 
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Graduate Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant
Water Resources Ph.D.
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University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

I am a PhD student in the Water Resources program, supporting Dr. Hall in Sustainability Science Lab research and in the classroom. My research focuses on flooding and disaster risk management within repetitive-loss riverfront communities. Currently, my work examines the social, technical, and biophysical factors impacted by increased flood events along the Missouri River to identify comprehensive and stakeholder-centered strategies for flood resiliency planning. My work is motivated by my experiences of the tangible, cumulative effects of frequent floods in my previous home of New Orleans. In my circuitous route to Mizzou, I earned a B.A. and M.A. in Cinema, Media, & Digital Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, taught as a full-time instructor at the University of New Orleans, and worked as a curator and projectionist for film festivals across the U.S. In 2023, I was selected to participate in the AAAS Office of Government Relations CASE Workshop in Washington D.C. for STEM. 

M. Umer Sarfaraz 

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U.S. Fulbright Fellow, Afghanistan 
Research Assistant 
Water Resources M.S. 
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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I am a Fulbright student working as a Research Assistant with Dr Hall. My research focuses on the role of data in transboundary cooperation. Additionally, I utilize Remote sensing and spatial technology for transboundary cooperation in conflicted regions. I graduated in water governance from IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. My research topic was “Operationalization of Principle of Equitable and Reasonable utilization for Kabul River basin” under the supervision of Professor Joyeeta Gupta. In my more than ten years of experience with government and non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan, I have served the country's water management and economic development sectors. 

David Reece 

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​Graduate Research Assistant
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Ph.D.
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

After earning my MA in Geography at Mizzou in 2018 and working in both the public and private sectors, I am currently both a GIS Specialist in CAFNR and a PhD student in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources program. My GIS work supports agricultural research, and my PhD studies use this as a foundation to critically examine human-environment interactions. My focus is on identifying systemic variables, such as social, economic, and political pressures, that might hinder sustainability and to continue pushing for system change by exposing them and exploring solutions. Specifically, I am identifying trends in land management and conservation practices to control erosion in agriculture and the attitudes of producers toward institutions, as well as potential variables that might affect these trends and attitudes.

Gerardo Gentil Orozco

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Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant
Water Resources Ph.D.
​University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

I am a PhD student in the Water Resources program, working on research with Dr. Hall on stakeholder engagement and flood resilience in the Missouri River. Prior to joining the Sustainability Science Lab, I served as Assistant Director of Latin American Programs at Penn State Law, where I oversaw partnerships and the development of recruitment initiatives in Latin America, while conducting research on water-related questions and supporting teaching in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution. I have worked in the submission of contributions to bills in the Colombian Congress as well as reports to the United Nations Bodies from my previous role at the Observatory for Marine and Coastal Governance, having experience in research and high-impact litigation. I was a distinguished student at Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla-Colombia, Teaching Assistant in the area of ​​public law, member of the Group of Strategic Litigation and Public Interest, and leader of several models of multilateral organizations. My academic and professional interests are primarily focused on the interactions between water policy/governance, water diplomacy, and environmental law. I hold an LL.M. (Master of Laws) with a Concentration in Energy and Environmental Law from Penn State Law, and an LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) from Universidad del Norte, Colombia.

Maddie White

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​Undergraduate Research Assistant
Environmental Sciences BS

University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA


I am a senior, born and raised in Columbia, MO. Currently studying Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in outreach and education. I love learning about sustainability and how to develop easily accessible sustainable options for everyone. I am also interested in the consumer habits of individuals and how that directly impacts our municipal waste streams and contributes to global pollution. I am currently working on the lab's National Science Foundation, Decision Risk and Management Sciences project, Engaging communities to discover environmentally and socially optimal waste management decisions.

Aidan David-Pennington

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Undergraduate Research Assistant
Environmental Sciences BS; Honors College 

University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

I am a sophomore from Kansas City, MO studying Environmental Sciences in the School of Natural Resources. I am assisting research for the Missouri Water Center and examining municipal-level insect pollinator policy toward the development of sustainable cities. I hope to spread awareness of sustainability policy, create resources for cities to draft their own laws, and develop new ways of thinking about sustainable development and conservation for urban environments. 

Natalie Radt

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​Teaching Assistant for ENV SC 2600/BIOL EN 2600
Environmental Sciences BS
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University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

I am a senior from St. Louis, MO studying Environmental Science with an emphasis in outreach and education. I am specifically interested in environmental education and scientific communication. I hope to make scientific information more accessible to the general public to encourage the cross-discipline cooperation required to solve our biggest sustainability challenges.”
We cannot solve pressing sustainability challenges with the same logics, norms, and capacities of today’s social systems. We recognize that everyone has unique lived experiences, and we are committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and equitable across age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, race, religion, nationality, citizenship, veteran status, or socio-economic background.

Changing the problem-solving capacities of communities through inclusion of often silenced voices is the centerpiece of my research practice. Inclusivity to leverage the advantages of diversity is an essential component in the effectiveness of our research, teaching, and service.
We are committed to open, honest, and accessible science with transparency in data acquisition and sharing. 

The Hall Sustainability Science Lab has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind. We support and celebrate each member as individuals as well as scientists. 
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Join the Lab: Seeking Graduate Research Assistants 

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We are currently only accepting students with their own source of funding. 
To apply: Please email a (1) resume/CV (preferred), (2) a brief statement of your interest in the position, qualifications, as well as your research and career goals, and (3) any other relevant details to Damon M. Hall, halldam@missouri.edu Materials will be reviewed as they are received. 

Graduates 
Nicole Amezcua Terherst Morfin, MS 2022
Edoardo Desiderio, visiting PhD, University of Bologna, 2022
Emma Heienickle, BS 2022

Brandon Adeshakin, visiting MoLSAMP Fellow BS, Truman State Univ., 2022
Kathryn Kidd, MS 2021
Lizette Perez, BS 2021
Maddie Emerson, MS 2020
Andrea Burr, PhD 2018

Leah Kunkel, MS 2018
Molly Laycob, MS 2018
​Spencer Ruggles, MS 2018
Rebecca Steiner, MS 2018

Alissa Benchimol, MS 2017
John Hamill, MS 
2017
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Nicholas McCreary, MS 2017
Nicole Schaeg, MS 2017
Bram Boettge, MS 2015

Sarah Burke, MS 2015
Amelia Fisher, MS 2015
Amy Hargis, MS 2014
Jen Myerscough, MS 2014

Collaborators

Ronald McGarvey, IÉSEG School of Management, France, Operations Management
Gerardo R. Camilo, Saint Louis University, Department of Biology 
Darren Ficklin, Indiana University, Department of Geography
Susan J. Gilbertz, Montana State University-Billings, Director of the Environmental Studies Program
​Chris Lowry, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology, Physical Hydrogeology Lab
Jason Knouft, Saint Louis University, Department of Biology 
Eli D. Lazarus, University of Southampton, Geography & Environment Unit, Environmental Dynamics Lab 
Rebecca K. Tonietto, Department of Biology, University of Michigan-Flint
Michael Quartuch, Cornell University, Human Dimensions Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources
Matthew Anderson, Eastern Washington University, Geography
Christine Costello, Penn State University, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Gail Langellotto, Oregon State University, Department of Horticulture
Jamie McEvoy, Montana State University, Department of Earth Sciences
Carla Atkinson, University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences
Lucas C. Ward, Rocky Mountain College, Director of the Environmental Management and Policy Program
Krista Capps, University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
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