James Boyd

Director of Social Science & Policy

Dr. James Boyd was SESYNC's Director of Social Science and Policy from 2011 to 2022, while also a Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future in Washington, DC, holding the Thomas Klutznick Chair in Environmental Policy. James earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and has been a visiting professor at Stanford University and Washington University in St Louis. James’ research emphasizes collaboration between ecologists and economists to guide decisions that affect natural resources. His work considers how natural systems contribute to economic wealth and social well-being and how policies can be designed to protect and enhance valuable ecosystem goods and services. James has worked with diverse partners from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private-sector institutions, emphasizing close collaboration between decision makers and academic researchers to generate science that is useful and practical in real-world settings. He has served on government and private advisory panels, including the National Academy of Sciences, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board, the Ecological Society of America, and others, including the U.S. EPA’s Committee on Valuing Ecological Systems and Services. As a consultant, he has advised the World Bank, European Commission, numerous federal and state agencies, and NGOs concerned with conservation and environmental protection.

External Links:
https://www.rff.org/people/james-w-boyd/

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Photo of James Boyd
2011 - 2022
Areas of Expertise
economics
environmental policy
Research Interests
ecosystem services
water resources management
land management
species management
Methods of Expertise
economic analysis
environmental valuation
cost-benefit analysis
regulatory analysis