Lynne M. Westphal
Title: Project Leader / Research Social Scientist
Unit: People and Their Environments: Social Science Supporting Natural Resource Management and Policy
Address: Northern Research Station
1033 University Place, Suite 360
Evanston, IL 60201-3172
Phone: 847-866-9311; ext. 11
E-mail: Contact Lynne M. Westphal
Jump to Publications
Education
- University of Illinois at Chicago. 1999. PhD, Public Policy Analysis and Urban Planning.
- Northeastern Illinois University. 1992. MA, Geography and Environmental Studies
- University of Wisconsin, Madison. 1982. BA South Asian Studies
Civic & Professional Affiliations
Environmental Design Research Association, American Psychological Association sec. 35 (environmental psychology), American Sociological Association, International Society of Arboriculture, Society for Conservation Biology.
Current Research
Two primary suites of projects-one in the Calumet rustbelt landscape of southeast Chicago and northwest Indiana, the other in the Iowa corn belt landscape-consume my research time. Both places have significant natural resources, both suffer from human-caused environmental degradation, and both engender very strong place attachment. My research aims to lessen the degradation, understand and build upon the place attachment, and create methods that work to involve local residents in creating a high-quality future for their region. In both Calumet and the Corn Belt I am involved in projects that look at the potential of computer modeling as a participatory decision making tool. Other projects include understanding people's perceptions of their local environments and the ways that local environments impact sense of self, sense of community, and overall quality of life. Most of my research uses qualitative research methods, and most is integrated with colleagues from the biological and physical sciences.
Why is This Important
We understand the importance of habitat for wildlife, yet humans need good habitat, too. Trees, rivers and streams, parks and other open spaces all play a significant role in creating good places to live. So, my work is important because it helps planners, municipal employees, elected officials, NGOs, tree advocates, and all other interested people understand how to manage natural resources to improve quality of life and achieve environmental justice.
Future Research
- Continue to refine and strengthen participatory decision making and management of natural areas.
- Understanding the fundamental impacts that living in aesthetically appealing or unappealing places have on people's well-being.
- Continuing the integration of social, biological, and physical disciplines in natural resources research.
Featured Publications
- Atwell, Ryan. C.; Schulte, Lisa. A.; Westphal, Lynne M. 2011. Tweak, adapt, or transform: Policy scenarios in response to emerging bioenergy markets in the U.S. Ecology and Society. 16 (1): 10. 15 p.
- Westphal, Lynne M.; Hirsch, Jennifer. 2010. Engaging Chicago residents in climate change action: Results from Rapid Ethnographic Inquiry. Cities and the Environment. 3(1): article 13. 16 p.
- Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc; Westphal, Lynne M.; Longoni, Mario. 2010. Fish consumption risk perception among anglers in an industrial urban area. In: Watts, Clifton E., Jr.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 48-56.
- Atwell, Ryan C.; Schulte, Lisa A.; Westphal, Lynne M. 2010. How to build multifunctional agricultural landscapes in the U.S corn belt: add perennials and partnerships. Land Use Policy. 27: 1082-1090.
- Westphal, Lynne M.; Gobster, Paul H.; Gross, Matthias. 2010. Models for renaturing brownfield areas [Chapter 19]. In: Hall, Marcus, ed. Restoration and history: The search for a usable environmental past. New York, NY: Routledge: 208-217.
Additional
Online Publications
- Atwell, Ryan C.; Schulte, Lisa A.; Westphal, Lynne M. 2009. Landscape, community, countryside: linking biophysical and social scales in US Corn Belt agricultural landscapes. Landscape Ecology. 24: 791-806.
- Atwell, Ryan C.; Schulte, Lisa A.; Westphal, Lynne M. 2009. Linking resilience theory and diffusion of innovations theory to understand the potential for perennials in the U.S. Corn Belt. Ecology and Society. 14(1): 30.
- Lu, Jacqueline W.T.; Shane, Megan; Svendsen, Erika; Campbell, Lindsay; Fragola, Cristiana; Krasny, Marianne; Lovasl, Gina; Maddox, David; McDonnell, Simon; McPhearson, P. Timon; Montalto, Franco; Newman, Andrew; Pehek, Ellen; Rae, Ruth A.; Stedman, Richard; Tidball, Keith G.; Westphal, Lynne; Whitlow, Tom. 2009. MillionTreesNYC, Green infrastructure, and urban ecology: building a research agenda. MillionTreesNYC, Green infrastructure, and urban ecology: building a research agenda. Report from the workshop. New York, NY: [Publisher unknown]. 44 p.
- Westphal, Lynne M.; Longoni, Mario; LeBlanc, Cherie L.; Wali, Alaka. 2008. Anglers' appraisals of the risks of eating sport-caught fish from industrial areas: lessons from Chicago's Calumet region. Human Ecology Review. 15(1): 46-62.
- Kramer, Daniel Boyd; Polasky, Stephen; Starfield, Anthony; Palik, Brian; Westphal, Lynn; Snyder, Stephanie; Jakes, Pamela; Hudson, Rachel; Gustafson, Eric. 2006. A Comparison of Alternative Strategies for Cost-Effective Water Quality Management in Lakes. Environmental Management Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 411-425
- Westphal, Lynne M.; Ostry, Michael E. 2006. Decisions at the water's edge: sustaining riparian landscapes in the midwest. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-247. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 31 p.
- Westphal, Lynne M.; Levengood, Jeffery M.; Wali, Alaka; Soucek, David; Stotz, Douglas F. 2005. Brownfield redevelopment: a hidden opportunity for conservation biology. In: Bengston, David N., tech. ed. Policies for managing urban growth and landscape change: a key to conservation in the 21st century. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-265. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 21-26
- Gobster, Paul H.; Westpahl, Lynne M. 2004. The human dimensions of urban greenways: planning for recreation and related experiences. Landscape and Urban Planning 68:147-165
- Westphal, Lynne M. 2003. Social Aspects of Urban Forestry: Urban Greening and Social Benefits: a Study of Empowerment Outcomes. Journal of Arboriculture 29(3):137-147
- Westphal, Lynne M. 2003. Water, water everywhere... integrated riparian research in the North Central Region. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 108-113
- Westphal, Lynne M.; Isebrands, J. G. 2001. Phytoremediation of Chicago's brownfields: consideration of ecological approaches and social issues.. In: Brownfields 2001 proceedings; Chicago, II.
- Westphal, Lynne M. 2000. Increasing the trustworthiness of research results: the role of computers in qualitative text analysis. In: Bengston, david N., ed. Applications of computer-aided text analysis in natural resources. General Techical Report. NC-211. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 1-6.
- Westphal, Lynne. 1999. Growing Power?: Social Benefits From Urban Greening Projects. Westphal, Lynne M. Growing Power?: Social Benefits From Urban Greening Projects. 1999
- Gobster, P. H.; Westphal, L. M. 1998. People and the River: Perception and Use of Chicago Waterways for Recreation.. Misc. Publ., Milwaukee, WI: U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program.
- Gobster, Paul H.; Westphal, Lynne M. 1998. People and the river: perception and use of Chicago waterways for recreation.. Chicago Rivers Demonstr. Proj. Rep. Milwaukee, WI: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. 192 p.
Other Publications by Lynne M. Westphal *
- Bennett, Victoria J.; Beard, Matthew; Zollner, Patrick A.; Fernandez-Juricic, Esteban; Westphal, Lynn; LeBlanc, Cherie L. 2009. Understanding wildlife responses to human disturbance through simulation modeling: A management tool. Ecological Complexity. 6: 113-134.
*Due to policy or copyright restrictions, we are unable to provide full-text versions of these publications. Please check with your local library or Contact Lynne M. Westphal to inquire about reprints.
Last Modified:
02/15/2012