Current Research

David A. Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.

Dept. of Environmental Studies

State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF)

Research Program

Most broadly, I am interested in understanding dynamics of social and institutional change with respect to the environment and natural resources. Over the last two decades, my primary focus has been on newly industrializing countries and societies, especially in Southeast and East Asia. While motivated to address contemporary social and environmental problems, I am fascinated by what we have to learn from both shorter and longer term historical perspectives, as well. The common thread running through my empirical, field-based research is how, when, and where (under what conditions) citizens and other civic actors have successfully influenced the design and functioning of core institutions, organizations, technologies, and processes in more environmentally sustainable and socially equitable directions ("greening" and democratization of science, technology, and society). To date, the largest part of this research has involved two industrial sectors – electronics and pulp and paper, respectively – as well as more general analyses of dynamics of ecological modernization. I am in early stages of developing research on popular influences on environmental transformation in a third sector, food and agriculture. In recent years, the geographical scope of my interests have broadened to include northern Europe and elsewhere. General areas of interest include:

Environment and Society
- Institutionalization (and reversal) of environmental reform
- Industrial environmental transformation
- Civil society, social movement, and community influence and participation
Globalization and Development
- East Asia
- Democratization, institutionalization of the "rule of law"
- Multiculturalism
Food and Society
- Globalization of food and agriculture
- Environmental transformation of agriculture
- Values, ethics, and social movements

Elaborated Description

Adapted from Switzer Foundation Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 2, Spring/ Summer 2002, p. 5 [article]

Books & Journal Symposia in Preparation

Lockie, Stewart, David A. Sonnenfeld, and Dana R. Fisher, eds. The Routledge International Handbook of Social and Environmental Change. London: Routledge, 2012 (forthcoming)

Graduate Research and Training Projects

"Ethics Education in Environmental Science and Engineering". National Science Foundation, Program on Ethics Education in Science and Engineering (EESE). Collaborative research and education project, with Dianne Quigley and Phil Brown, Brown University, 2010-13 (co-PI) [press release | related talk | faculty mentoring]
- Spring 2012 Graduate Short-Course [announcement | syllabus]
- Summer Workshop for Graduate Students [announcement | agenda]
"Agro-Industrial Transformations Towards Sustainability: Southeast and East Asia in Global Perspective" (AGITS) Project, North-South Interdisciplinary Research and Education Fund (INREF), Wageningen University, the Netherlands, 2000-2006 (cooperating faculty)

Research Initiatives

Ecological Modernization in Thailand's Electronics Industry [project outline]
Ecological Modernization in East & Southeast Asian High Performance Economies (with Arthur P.J. Mol, et al.) [proposal]
Thailand's Institutional Reforms in Global Perspective [précis]
Environmental Research Network Asia (ERNAsia), co-founder & advisory board member

Conferences, Symposia, and Meetings

Workshop on "Research Ethics and Cultural Competence in Environmental Science, Engineering and Related Fields," SUNY-ESF, August 2011 [link] (co-organizer)
Scientific exchange with delegation from China on "Climate Change and Energy", International Visitor Leadership Program, US Department of State, SUNY-ESF, July 2011 [link] (co-organizer)
Sessions on "Social Theory and the Environment in the New World (dis)Order", Research Committee on Society and Environment (RC-24), International Sociological Association (ISA), XVIIth World Congress of Sociology, Gothenburg, Sweden, July 2010 (co-organizer and chair)
Thematic session on "Globalization and Environmental Governance," American Sociological Association, New York City, August 2007 (organizer and chair)
International workshop on "The Globalization of the Pulp and Paper Industry," Center for Paper Industry and Business Studies, a Sloan Industry Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, May 2007
International conference on "The Greening of Agro-Industries and Networks in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities," Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, October 2006 (co-chair) [CFP]
Session on "Communities, Natural Resources and the Environment," Research Committee on Society and Environment (RC-24), International Sociological Association (ISA), XVIth World Congress of Sociology, Durban, South Africa, July 2006 (co-organizer)
Symposium on "Sustainable Agriculture, Communities, and Environments in the Pacific Northwest," Washington State University Tri-Cities, May 2006 (chair)
Workshop on "Environmental Reform in Asia: Comparative Perspectives," Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 2004 (co-organizer)
International conference on "Environmental Governance in Asia: Regional Perspectives on Industrial and Environmental Transformation," Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 2004 (co-organizer)
International conference on "Environmental Governance in Asia: New State-Society Relations," Chiang Mai, Thailand, October 2003 (co-organizer)
International conference on "Governing Environmental Flows: Reinventing the State in Global Modernity," ISA Research Committee on Society and Environment (RC-24), Wageningen, Netherlands, June 2003 (session co-organizer)
International conference on "Global Strategies for a Sustainable High-Tech Industry," San Jose, California, November 2002 (co-organizer)
International conference on "Managing the Environment in Developmental States: Asian Perspectives," Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, September 2002
"International Conference on Industry and Environment," Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 2001