In Their Words: Pam Rittlemeyer

Name: Pam Rittlemeyer

Department: Environmental Studies

What Award/Scholarship did you receive? The CONCUR, Inc. Scholarship Award in Environmental Studies

What year are you? Graduate

Research Description: I have a passion for solving real-world environmental problems. Broadly, I am interested in expanding opportunities for effective governance at the human-environment interface. I am particularly drawn to social conflicts over natural resources. My experiences working for a state agency and as an environmental planner before returning to graduate school incited my desire to delve deep into research on the barriers and opportunities for solutions to conflicts over natural resources, especially those that are exacerbated by climate change. My PhD research examining risk perceptions of flooding in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta lies at the intersection of socio-cultural theory, governance, issue framing, and climate modeling. Using frameworks from these fields, I investigate the meanings behind people’s perceptions of natural hazards and resource scarcity in a dynamic environment.