John Parkins

John Parkins is a professor in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology. His research addresses rural community development, public engagement in resource management and environmental governance. Research on energy transition includes Q Methodology to assess public discourse on energy development, a large-scale national survey of energy literacy and energy citizenship, and analysis of social media content to gauge impacts from proposed energy developments, such as hydroelectric dams. Current research involves analysis of wind energy development with attention to community impacts and possibilities for enhanced local governance of local energy systems. Research on geothermal technology involves an assessment of social and cultural dimensions of geothermal technology including possibilities for community based systems of governance.

Area of Study

• social context of resource development
• renewable and community energy
• public deliberation and environmental politics
• sociology of food and agriculture

Academic Disciplines

Rural Sociology, Environmental Sociology, Sociology of Agriculture