Robert Melchior Figueroa (BA-Rutgers 1989, MA-University of Colorado-Boulder 1995, PhD-University of Colorado-Boulder 1999) is an Associate Professor in the Philosophy and Religion Studies Department at the University of North Texas.
He is also the Director of the Environmental Justice Project, a part of the Center for Environmental Philosophy, which maintains a non-profit classification.
He specializes his research in Environmental Justice Studies and Environmental Philosophy, as well as the Philosophy of Science, Technology, and Society. Inclusive of his research is work on Philosophy of Heritage, Environmental Identity, Climate Refugees, Critical Race Theory, Critical Geography, Feminist Philosophy, and Philosophy for Children.
He is an affiliated graduate faculty of the Masters Degree in International Sustainable Tourism, as well as Women's Studies Program. He is also Associate Professor with Teach North Texas, contributing the history of philosophy and science and math to high school teacher education with his required course Ethics in Science.
He edited the special issue of the Journal of Environmental Philosophy on Ecotourism and Environmental Justice in the fall 2010 issue. Figueroa has published widely on environmental justice studies working to extend both the applications of environmental justice in multiple disciplines and to rethink justice theory through grassroots experiences. Recent work has involved cultural geographer Gordon Waitt from the University of Wollongong, Australia. They have been studying ecotourism and environmental justice at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia since 2005. Their Uluru Project has produced several publications across geography and philosophy. The Uluru Project has produced a series of articles and book chapters shaping thought in tourism studies, environmental justice, critical geography, and restorative justice for indigenous peoples through a combining of philosophy and geography in an affective, qualitative methodology.
He is also a vital member of the Mesa Verde Project with a team of researchers from multiple disciplines, academic sites, and the Santa Clara Pueblo. This team works in the field crossing boundaries of film, philosophy, archaeology, eco-poetry, digital media, cultural studies, and trandisciplinary experience.
His areas of teaching and research have maintained a transdisciplinary (across disciplines and beyond academia) perspective since 1995 when he launched one of the first courses in the nation titled "Environmental Justice" and has continued to be a leader in environmental justice pedagogy. He has taught environmental justice in academic programs such as, philosophy, environmental studies/science, Africana and Latin American studies, peace and conflict studies, women's studies, and liberal arts core curricula. Currently he teaches environmental justice at undergraduate level and in graduate seminars at UNT and in academic conferences.
He has been active in the philosophy for children movement beginning with his first article with Sara Goering on the Summer High School Philosophy Institute they co-founded with Claudia Mills in Boulder, Colorado in 1995. The following year, they initiated the Philosophy Outreach Program. And, his work with Teach North Texas continues to develop philosophy teacher training for high school teachers. He has also been active in UNT's President's Sustainability Council, worked with the Ponca Tribe Cumulative Risk Assessment Project, works with researchers on autism spectrum disorder.
His most recent endeavors include research on environmental justice and refugee communities, redefining the boundaries of environmental justice, identity, and heritage. For his works in progress, see his curriculum vitae.
He is also the Director of the Environmental Justice Project, a part of the Center for Environmental Philosophy, which maintains a non-profit classification.
He specializes his research in Environmental Justice Studies and Environmental Philosophy, as well as the Philosophy of Science, Technology, and Society. Inclusive of his research is work on Philosophy of Heritage, Environmental Identity, Climate Refugees, Critical Race Theory, Critical Geography, Feminist Philosophy, and Philosophy for Children.
He is an affiliated graduate faculty of the Masters Degree in International Sustainable Tourism, as well as Women's Studies Program. He is also Associate Professor with Teach North Texas, contributing the history of philosophy and science and math to high school teacher education with his required course Ethics in Science.
He edited the special issue of the Journal of Environmental Philosophy on Ecotourism and Environmental Justice in the fall 2010 issue. Figueroa has published widely on environmental justice studies working to extend both the applications of environmental justice in multiple disciplines and to rethink justice theory through grassroots experiences. Recent work has involved cultural geographer Gordon Waitt from the University of Wollongong, Australia. They have been studying ecotourism and environmental justice at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia since 2005. Their Uluru Project has produced several publications across geography and philosophy. The Uluru Project has produced a series of articles and book chapters shaping thought in tourism studies, environmental justice, critical geography, and restorative justice for indigenous peoples through a combining of philosophy and geography in an affective, qualitative methodology.
He is also a vital member of the Mesa Verde Project with a team of researchers from multiple disciplines, academic sites, and the Santa Clara Pueblo. This team works in the field crossing boundaries of film, philosophy, archaeology, eco-poetry, digital media, cultural studies, and trandisciplinary experience.
His areas of teaching and research have maintained a transdisciplinary (across disciplines and beyond academia) perspective since 1995 when he launched one of the first courses in the nation titled "Environmental Justice" and has continued to be a leader in environmental justice pedagogy. He has taught environmental justice in academic programs such as, philosophy, environmental studies/science, Africana and Latin American studies, peace and conflict studies, women's studies, and liberal arts core curricula. Currently he teaches environmental justice at undergraduate level and in graduate seminars at UNT and in academic conferences.
He has been active in the philosophy for children movement beginning with his first article with Sara Goering on the Summer High School Philosophy Institute they co-founded with Claudia Mills in Boulder, Colorado in 1995. The following year, they initiated the Philosophy Outreach Program. And, his work with Teach North Texas continues to develop philosophy teacher training for high school teachers. He has also been active in UNT's President's Sustainability Council, worked with the Ponca Tribe Cumulative Risk Assessment Project, works with researchers on autism spectrum disorder.
His most recent endeavors include research on environmental justice and refugee communities, redefining the boundaries of environmental justice, identity, and heritage. For his works in progress, see his curriculum vitae.