FACULTY RESEARCH EXPERTISE
Environmental Policy and Social Sciences
PhD University of California, Davis
Research Focus: Environmental Economics and Modeling
Web Site: http://mason.gmu.edu/~dparker3
Office/Building: Robinson B, Room 477A
Phone: 703-993-4640
Email: dparker3@gmu.edu
Dr. Parker’s research focuses on development of fine-scale models of human-environment interactions, with particular emphasis on multi-agent system models of land-use and land-cover change (MAS/LUCC models). MAS/LUCC models combine agent-based models of human decision making and interactions with cellular landscape models. Her current research applications include timber harvest and carbon sequestration in WV, impacts of surrounding land uses on rare biotic resources in the Potomac Gorge national park, agricultural land holdings in Scotland, spatial externalities and landscape fragmentation at the urban-rural fringe, smallholder cropping decisions in Uganda (with grad student Maction Komwa), and emergence of civilizations in Mongolia. In all research areas, Dr. Parker uses a variety of modeling tools beyond agent-based models, including analytical mathematical models, game-theoretical models, and econometrics. Her research interests, at the most general level, focus on studying the dynamics of human-environment interactions that result from humans' decisions related to allocation of scarce resources. In her overlapping roles as geographer, environmental and resource economist, and computational social scientist, Dr. Parker enjoys collaborations with many other researchers who share these interests, both at GMU and around the world.