Justine Law
Professor of Ecology and Environmental Studies
Contact
Office
Carson Hall 59About
Professor Justine Law explores the connections between people, the environment, and the decisions that shape our natural world.
Her teaching and research focus on climate change, environmental conservation, political ecology, and natural resource management, with particular attention to rural communities and forested regions of North America.
Her research examines how communities manage natural resources, including a project focused on ginseng production in Appalachia. Through her interdisciplinary approach, she encourages students to think critically about environmental challenges and the relationships between society and nature.
Education
| Degree | Institution |
|---|---|
| Ph.D., Geography | The Ohio State University |
| M.A., Geography | The Ohio State University |
| B.S., Environmental Science | Allegheny College |
Academic Interests
- Political Ecology
- Climate Change & Society
- Environmental Conservation
- Natural Resource Management
- Forest Ecology & Rural Communities
- Science Studies & Novel Ecology
Selected Publications & Presentations
Book Chapters
The Impacts of Doing Environmental Research (2018)
Published in The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Physical Geography, pp. 89–103. Palgrave.
Journal Articles
| Publication | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| The Other Questions We Need to Be Asking About Wood Bioenergy | Journal of Forestry | 2017 |
| Environmental Politics After Nature: Competing Visions of Socioecological Forests of the Future (co-author) | Annals of the Association of American Geographers | 2015 |
| Burning Wood to Power Alternative Rural Economies? Woody Biomass Energy Generation in Vermont | FOCUS on Geography | 2013 |
| Looking Under the Canopy: Rural Smallholders and Forest Recovery in Appalachian Ohio (co-author) | Geoforum | 2013 |
Research Focus
People, Forests & Environmental Change
Professor Law's research examines how environmental policies, resource management practices, and community decisions influence the landscapes we share.
Her work explores forest management, rural livelihoods, renewable energy, and the challenges communities face when balancing environmental conservation with economic and social needs.