Environmental Governance Lab
At the EGL, we study environmental problems that occur at different geographic scales (local, national, and international) and that involve a wide range of policy stakeholders and institutions. At the core of our research is the goal of understanding how policy actors (individuals and organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental) interact with each other when they face "wicked" problems, and how these interactions facilitate finding sustainable solutions to those problems. Most of our empirical work focuses on environmental problems, but the implications of our findings often extend beyond this narrow scope. For example, our work on polycentricity and complex governance systems can be applied to the study of health policy, education policy, transportation policy, etc.
Some of the topics we are currently working on include:
You'll find a short bio of the members of the lab when you scroll down. For students interested in pursuing graduate studies at the School of Environment and Natural Resources as members of the EGL, please contact the director of the lab. Include a statement of interest and relevant test scores (GRE, TOEFL), if available. In your statement of interest, and in addition to your specific research interests and academic credentials, please briefly describe how you would bring diversity to our program. The Graduate School at OSU considers diversity to be a broadly defined concept. Examples include but are not limited to ethnic background, social or economic disadvantage, disability, or other characteristics or attributes that may contribute to the diversity of our program.
Some of the topics we are currently working on include:
- Environmental justice in the access to clean water in poor communities of the U.S.
- Land use and water use patterns in deltas and estuaries in the U.S. and South America. This work has been funded by the National Science Foundation (Political Science Program) and is in collaboration with Mark Lubell (U.C.-Davis) and John T. Scholz (Florida State University)
- Sources, characteristics and effects of conflicts over state-level policy decision around oil and gas development. This work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and is in collaboration with Tanya Heikkila (U.C.-Denver), Christopher Weible (U.C.-Denver), and Hongtao Yi (Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University)
- Environmental Rulemaking in the U.S. regarding climate change mitigation and protection of water quality for human and non-human users
- Evolution of the climate change governance network in the U.S., accounting for multiplexity of relationships and variety of active decision-making forums
- Public and policy attention to the issue of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie
You'll find a short bio of the members of the lab when you scroll down. For students interested in pursuing graduate studies at the School of Environment and Natural Resources as members of the EGL, please contact the director of the lab. Include a statement of interest and relevant test scores (GRE, TOEFL), if available. In your statement of interest, and in addition to your specific research interests and academic credentials, please briefly describe how you would bring diversity to our program. The Graduate School at OSU considers diversity to be a broadly defined concept. Examples include but are not limited to ethnic background, social or economic disadvantage, disability, or other characteristics or attributes that may contribute to the diversity of our program.
Director
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Dr. Ramiro Berardo directs the EGL. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Florida State University (2006). Originally from Argentina, he moved to the U.S. in 2001 and has been studying environmental policy since then. His work has been published in some of the top journals in public policy and administration and political science. Dr. Berardo can be reached at berardo.3 (at) osu (dot) edu
His Google Scholar profile is available here.
Graduate Students
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Harrison Fried is pursuing his Ph.D. at SENR. He completed his Master of Science degree in the spring of 2021. Harrison is studying the complex polycentric system of stakeholders, policy forums, and topics related to climate change in the state of Ohio. He is a co-founder of the Social-Ecological Networks Group (SENG), a student-led research group. Harrison is Co-advised by Dr. Ramiro Berardo and Dr. Matt Hamilton. He can be contacted at fried.64 (at) osu (dot) edu.
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Cael Jones began their Master of Science degree at SENR in 2023, having completed his Bachelor's at OSU from 2017 to 2021 in political science and environmental policy. His research focuses on climate change policy, exploring the intersection of social media, political action, and discourse. Building on their previous academic foundation, he employs a combination of quantitative methodologies in his work, to advance our understanding of climate change misinformation. He can be reached at Jones.6036 (at )osu (dot) edu.
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Nikki Nadeau arrived at OSU in the fall of 2022. She is pursuing a Master of Science degree at SENR. While completing a Bachelor's degree in business management at the University of Nevada, Reno, she engaged in research to better understand stakeholder collaboration in community food systems. Building upon that work, she is interested in leveraging qualitative and quantitative tools to improve governance processes for more socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable food systems. In 2023, she became a recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship. The fellowship will fund Nikki's research for three years. . She can be reached at nadeau.41(at)buckeyemail (dot)osu(dot)edu
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Tatiana Slesnick is pursuing a Master of Science degree at SENR. While completing her undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and Decision Making at SENR, Tatiana developed an interest in environmental justice and how environmental policies impact different socioeconomic groups. She is focusing her research on the environmental injustices faced by youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) in Columbus, Ohio. She also recently published her first peer-reviewed article as lead author in the Environmental Justice journal where she identified the major gaps in knowledge concerning the environmental injustices faced by YEH. She can be reached at slesnick.8(at)buckeyemail(dot)osu(dot)edu
Former students and lab associates Waymon McNeal graduated with a Master of Science degree in the summer of 2023. His thesis explored challenges to urban agriculture in poor neighborhoods of Columbus. He currently works as a Soil specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Federico ("Fede") Holm obtained his Ph.D. student at the School of Environment and Natural Resources in June of 2021. He earned his bachelors degree in International Relations in 2013 from the Catholic University of Cordoba, Argentina. In the spring of 2018, he graduated with a Master of Science after doing research to understand how advocacy coalitions operated in the rulemaking process leading to the passage of the Clean Power Plan in 2015. He is currently a Clean Energy Policy Analysis at the Center for Progressive Reform. Check out his personal website! Francesca DePrator graduated with a Master of Science with a specialization in Environmental Social Science in the spring of 2018. Her research focused on understanding how Nutrient Service Providers in the Midwest engaged in the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program, a voluntary program designed to improve soil health and water quality in agricultural land. She currently works for the Lancaster County Conservation District in Pennsylvania. Austin Miles is originally from Athens, Ohio. His master's thesis (defended in the spring of 2020) explored how the 2015 Toledo water crisis (during which the city was unable to provide drinking water to its population) affected the way stakeholders think about (and act upon) environmental crises. He is currently applying to Ph.D. programs in Anthropology across the U.S. Kenneth (Ken) B. Poland obtained his Master of Science in the spring of 2020. His research focused on the study of collaborative behavior among stakeholders involved in the design of water management plans to tackle non point source pollution in Ohio. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Public Affairs at the Glenn College of Public Affairs. Andreea Nita is an environmental scientist from Romania who researches environmental problems with the main goal of informing and improving conservation management and the implementation of environmental policies. She obtained her Ph.D. in 2015 after following the doctoral studies at University of Bucharest and Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL). Research interests include: Environmental Impact Assessment, Biological Conservation, Management of protected areas and Social Network Analysis. She spent five months in residence at the lab as a Fulbright scholar in the spring of 2019. OSU undergraduate students with current and former participation on lab research projects Zachary Ames, Lilly Buchiarelli, Gemma Bush, Joseph Coffey, Maria Collantes Roda, Anna Crouser, Victoria Houser, Megan Howard, Max Kirchner, Connor Lemmons, Ava Mastrianni, Jamie Richards, Rachel Rutan, Jennifer Satterfield, Victoria Staltare, Callia Tellez, Maya Tenner. |
Publications by members of the lab (* indicates current or former graduate student at the time of publication).
2024
53. Fried, Harrison*, Matt Hamilton, Ramiro Berardo, Kimberly Ordoñez, and Rohit Basu. 2024. “Engaged network tools to close collaborative gaps: Uses, limitations, and design principles.” Society & Natural Resources. In press.
52. Slesnick, Tatiana, and Natasha Slesnick. 2024. Environmental Risks Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness: The Need for Justice. Environmental Justice. DOI: 10.1089/env.2023.0034.
2023
51. Nadeau, Nikki, and Koebele, Elizabeth. 2023. "Collaborating to reduce food waste: building collaborative advantage in local food systems." Renewable Agriculture and Foods Systems. DOI: 10.1017/S1742170523000285.
50. Kagan, Jennifer A., Tanya Heikkila, Christopher M. Weible, Duncan Gilchrist, Ramiro Berardo, and Hongtao Yi. 2023. "Advancing scholarship on policy conflict through perspectives from oil and gas policy actors." Policy Sciences (2023): 1-22. Available here.
2022.
49. Fried, Harrison*, Matt Hamilton, and Ramiro Berardo. 2022. “Theorizing Multilevel Closure Structures Guiding Forum Participation.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. DOI: 10.1093.
48. Barnes, Michele, Lorien Jasny, Andrew Bauman, John Ben, Ramiro Berardo, Orjan Bodin, Joshua Cinner, David Feary, Angela Guerrero, Fraser Januchowski-Hartley, John Kuange, Jacqueline Lau, Peng Wang, Jessica Zamborain-Mason. 2022. “‘Bunkering down’: how one community is tightening social-ecological network structures in the face of global change.” People and Nature. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10364.
47. Chen, Catherine, Tanya Heikkila, Ramiro Berardo, Christopher M. Weible, Hongtao Yi, Jennifer Kagan, Jill Yordy, and Tao Guo. 2021. "Traces of Conflict: Policy Composition and the Duration of Policymaking." Accepted for publication at Policy Studies Journal
46. Fried, Harrison*, Ramiro Berardo, and Matt Hamilton. 2022. “Closing Integrative Gaps in Complex Governance systems.” Ecology & Society 27(1): 15. DOI: 10.5751/ES-12996-270115.
45. Olivier, Tomas, and Ramiro Berardo. 2022. "Birds of a feather fight together: forum involvement in a developing Ecology of Policy Games." Policy Studies Journal. DOI: 10.1111/psj.12418
44. Yi, Hongtao, Christopher M. Weible, Catherine Chen, Jennifer Kagan, Yordy Jill, Ramiro Berardo, Tanya Heikkila, and Federico Holm*. 2022. “Measuring Policy Conflict and Concord.” Society & Natural Resources. DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2022.2029994.
2020.
43. Weible, Christopher M., Tanya Heikkila, Jill Yordy, Hongtao Yi, Ramiro Berardo, Jennifer Kagan, and Catherine Chen. 2021. "Portraying the Structure and Evolution of Polycentricity via Policymaking Venues." International Journal of the Commons 14(1): 680-691. DOI: 10.5334/ijc.1021.
42. Berardo, Ramiro, Federico Holm*, Tanya Heikkila, Jennifer Kagan, Catherine Chen, Christopher Weible, Jill Jordy, and Hongtao Yi. 2020. "A Comparison of News Media Coverage of Hydraulic Fracturing Across the U.S." Energy Research & Social Science 70 (December). DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2020.101660.
41. Holm, Federico*, and Ramiro Berardo. 2020. "Coalitional Architecture of Climate Change Litigation Networks in the U.S." Review of Policy Research 37(6):797-822. DOI: 10.1111/ropr.12402.
40. Berardo, Ramiro, Manuel Fischer, and Matt Hamilton. 2020. "Collaborative governance and the challenges of network-based research." American Review of Public Administration 50(8) 898-913. DOI: 10.1177/0275074020927792. Click here for the accepted version of the paper.
39. Wei, Cynthia A., Michael L. Deaton, Teresa Shume, Ramiro Berardo and William B. Burnside. 2020. "A framework for teaching socio-environmental problem-solving." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences 10(4): 467{477. DOI: 10.1007/s13412-020-00603-y.
38. Lubell, Mark, Jack Mewhirter, and Ramiro Berardo. 2020. "The Origins of Conflict in Polycentric Governance Systems." Public Administration Review 80(2): 222-233. DOI: 10.1111/puar.13159.
2019.
37. Berardo, Ramiro, V. Kelly Turner, and Stian Rice. 2019. "Systemic coordination and the problem of seasonal harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie." Ecology and Society 24(3). Click here for a copy.
36. Bodin, Örjan, Steve M. Alexander, Jacoppo Baggio, Michelle L. Barnes, Ramiro Berardo, G. S. Cumming, Laura E. Dee et al. 2019. "Improving network approaches to the study of complex social–ecological interdependencies." Nature sustainability 2: 551–559.
35. Berardo, Ramiro, and Mark Lubell. 2019. "The Ecology of Games as a Theory of Polycentricity: Recent Advances and Future Challenges" Policy Studies Journal 47(1): 6-26. Click here for a copy.
34. Mewhirter, Jack, Eric Coleman, and Ramiro Berardo. 2019. "Power Dynamics in Complex Governance Systems." Policy Studies Journal. 47(4): 996-1019. DOI: 10.1111/psj.12227.
33. Mewhirter, Jack, and Ramiro Berardo. 2019. "The Impact of Forum Interdependence and Network Structure on Actor Performance in Complex Governance Systems." Policy Studies Journal 47(1): 159-177. Click here for a copy.
32. Heikkila, Tanya, Ramiro Berardo, Christopher Weible, and Hongtao Yi. 2018. "Comparing Advocacy Coalitions: A Study of Shale Development in the United States, Argentina, and China." Journal of Comparative Public Policy. DOI: 10.1080/13876988.2017.1405551.
2018.
31. Costie, Daniel, Federico Holm*, and Ramiro Berardo. 2018. "Hydraulic Fracturing, Coalition Activity and Shock: Assessing the Potential for Coalition-based Collective Action in Argentina's Vaca Muerta Formation." The Extractive Industries and Society 5(4): 499-507.
30. Mewhirter, Jack, Mark Lubell, and Ramiro Berardo. 2018. "Complex Governance Systems and Externalities." Environmental Policy and Governance 28(4):295-307. DOI: 10.1002/eet.1816
29. Bruskotter, Jeremy T., John A. Vucetich, Kristina M. Slagle, Ramiro Berardo, Ajay S. Singh, and Robyn S. Wilson. 2018. "United States Resident's Support for the Endangered Species Act over Time and Space." Conservation Letters 11(6). DOI: 10.1111/conl.12595. Click here to access the full article.
28. Berardo, Ramiro, and Federico Holm*. 2018. "The participation of Core Stakeholders in the Design of, and Challenges to, the U.S. Clean Power Plan." Climate Policy 18(9):1152-1164. . DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2018.1478792. Click here to access the article (not open access). Replication material available here.
2017.
27. Berardo, Ramiro, Francesca Formica*, Jeffrey Reutter, and Ajay Singh. 2017. "Impact of Land Use Activities in the Maumee River Watershed on Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie." Case Studies in the Environment June: 1-8. DOI: 10.1525/cse.2017.sc.450561.
26. Lubell, Mark, Jack Mewhirter, Ramiro Berardo, and John T. Scholz. 2017. "Transaction Costs and the Perceived Effectiveness of Complex Institutional Systems." Public Administration Review 77(5): 668-680. DOI: 10.1111/puar.12622.
25. Berardo, Ramiro, Isabella Alcaniz, and Lorien Jasny. 2017. "Policy Networks and Environmental Governance." In Nicoll Victor, Jennifer, Mark Lubell, and Alexander H. Montgomery (eds.) Oxford Handbook of Political Networks. Forthcoming. Click here for a pre-print of the chapter.
2016.
24. Berardo, Ramiro, and Mark Lubell. 2016. "Understanding What Shapes a Polycentric Governance System." Public Administration Review 76(5): 738-751. Click here to go to the journal's page containing the article.
23. Alcaniz, Isabella, and Ramiro Berardo. 2016. "A network analysis of transboundary water cooperation in La Plata Basin." Water Policy. Click here to go to the journal's page containing the article.
22. Berardo, Ramiro. 2016. "Redes y Riesgo en Sistemas Socio-Ecológicos." In Ramirez de la Cruz, Edgar (ed.) Análisis de redes sociales para el estudio de la governanza y las Políticas Públicas: aproximaciones y casos. Mexico: Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económica. Pp. 157-190. Click here for a pre-print.
2015.
21. Berardo, Ramiro, Tomás Olivier*, and Anthony Lavers. 2015. "Environmental crises as shocks to an ecology of policy games: Evidence from the Paraná River delta." Review of Policy Research. Forthcoming. Click here for the accepted version.
20. Berardo, Ramiro, and Jeff Hanlon. 2015. "Institutions." In Wohl, Ellen (ed.) Oxford Bibliographies in Environmental Science. Oxford University Press.
2014.
19. Berardo, Ramiro. 2014. "Bridging and Bonding Capital in Two-Mode Collaboration Networks." Policy Studies Journal. 42(2):197-225. Click here.
18. Shrestha, Manoj, Ramiro Berardo, and Richard Feiock. 2014. "Institutional Collective Action Dilemmas, Multiplex Networks, and Collaborative Governance." Complexity, Governance & Networks. 1(1):49-60. Click here.
17. Berardo, Ramiro. 2014. "The Evolution of Collaboration Networks in High Risk Social-Ecological Systems." International Journal of the Commons. 8(1):236-258. Click here for a pre-print.
16. Berardo, Ramiro, Tanya Heikkila, and Andrea Gerlak. 2014. "Inter-organizational Engagement in Collaborative Environmental Management: Evidence from the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force." Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. doi: 10.1093/jopart/muu003. Click here for a pre-print. Replication Material.
2013.
15. Berardo, Ramiro. 2013. "The Coevolution of Perceptions of Procedural Fairness and Link Formation in Self-Organizing Policy Networks." Journal of Politics 75(3):686-700. Click here. Link to Online Issue. | Replication Material.
14. Berardo, Ramiro, Tomas Olivier*, and Marcos Meyer. 2013. "Adaptive Governance and Integrated Water Resources Management in Argentina." International Journal of Water Governance 1(3/4):63-80. Click here.
2012.
13. Lubell, Mark, John Scholz, Ramiro Berardo, and Garry Robins. 2012. "Testing Policy Theory with Statistical Models of Networks." Policy Studies Journal 40(3):351-374. Click here.
Note: This is the opening article to a special issue published in the Policy Studies Journal. Readers interested in the more technical description of each of the statistical models discussed in the article should also read the following outstanding piece (also part of the special issue).
Robins, Garry, Jenny M. Lewis, and Peng Wang. 2012. "Statistical Networks Analysis for Analyzing Policy Networks." Policy Studies Journal 40(3):375-401. Click here. Posted with permission from the authors.
12. Berardo, Ramiro, and Victor Mazzalay. 2012. "Confianza, influencia política e intercambio de recursos en arenas decisorias regionales." Revista de Ciencia Política32(2):479-500. Click here for a pre-print.
11. Berardo, Ramiro, and Andrea Gerlak. 2012. "Conflict and Cooperation along International Rivers: Crafting a Model of Institutional Effectiveness." Global Environmental Politics 12(1):101-120. Click here.
2011.
10. Berardo, Ramiro. 2011. "Speaking with an Accent: Some Practical Advice for Foreign First-Time Teachers." PS.Political Science & Politics 44(2):421-423. Click here.
9. Berardo, Ramiro. 2011. "Networking Networkers: An Initial Exploration of the Patterns of Collaboration among the members of a New Community in Political Science." PS. Political Science & Politics 44(1):69-75. Click here.
2010.
8. Berardo, Ramiro, and John T. Scholz. 2010. "Self-Organizing Policy Networks: Risk, Partner Selection, and Cooperation in Estuaries." American Journal of Political Science 54(3):632-649. Click here. | Download data
7. Berardo, Ramiro. 2010. "Policy Networks and Communication." In Alt, James, Simone Chambers, Geoffrey Garrett, Margaret Levi, and Paula McClain (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Political Science. Washington, DC: CQ Press. Pp. 204-228. Click here.
6. Berardo, Ramiro. 2010. "Sustaining Joint Ventures: The Role of Resource Exchange and the Strength of Inter-organizational Relationships." In Feiock, Richard, and John T. Scholz (eds.) Self-Organizing Federalism: Collaborative Mechanisms to Mitigate Institutional Collective Action. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 204-228. Click here to buy the book.| Click here to see a pre-print of the chapter
2009.
5. Berardo, Ramiro. 2009. "Processing Complexity in Networks: A Study of Informal Collaboration and its Effect on Organizational Success." Policy Studies Journal 37(3): 521-539. Click here.
4. Berardo, Ramiro. 2009. "Generalized Trust in Multi-organizational Policy Arenas: Studying its Emergence from a Network Perspective." Political Research Quarterly 62(1): 178-189. Click here.
2008.
3. Scholz, John T., Ramiro Berardo, and Brad Kile. 2008. "Do Networks Solve Collective Action Problems? Credibility, Search, and Collaboration." Journal of Politics 70(2):393-406. Click here.
2005.
2. Berardo, Ramiro. 2005. "The East Central Florida Regional Water Supply Planning Initiative: Creating collaboration". In Scholz, John T. and Bruce Stiftel (eds.) Adaptive Governance and Water Conflict. Washington, D.C.: Resources for the Future Press. Click here to buy the book.
1. Berardo, Ramiro. 2000. "Crisis fiscales y nuevos gobiernos municipales: los concejos deliberantes en la encrucijada." In Memoria: 261-284. Buenos Aires: Instituto Nacional de Administración Publica.