Michael Levandowsky

Haskins Laboratory
Pace University
New York, NY

Biographical sketch: Michael Levandowsky received a B.A. (mathematics) from Antioch College, a M.S. (mathematics) from New York University, and a Ph.D. (biological Sciences) from Columbia University, and is an Adjunct Professor and Research Scientist at the Haskins Lab, at Pace University in New York. His research interests have been largely in sensory and population biology, and environmental issues. In connection with the latter he became interested in the political economic aspects of environmental problems, joined ISEE and then USSEE, and has been learning economics by teaching a course in environmental economics. He was involved in organizing the recent meeting of USSEE at Pace University. He is particularly interested in the problem of valuation in ecological economics.

Candidate Statement: A major task confronting the USSEE at this point is to increase our membership and influence. We need to consider why more economists are not members. In the New York City area, for example, we have an army of economists - in universities, the UN, foundations, the financial sector, etc. - but very few belong to USSEE or ISEE, and this situation seems typical. We need to examine the problem: how can we raise environmental awareness and tap into this pool of potential members? The complementary task is to get environmental scientists to realize the great importance of the economic dimension in policy decisions, and recruit from that pool as well.