Rebecca Rasch

Research Interests

  • Understanding the impacts of urbanization and technological change on Wilderness values, Wilderness visitors and a conservation ethic, more broadly
  • Exploring the relationship between spatial segregation, land-use planning and vulnerability to climate change in using spatial statistical analysis
  • Mapping social vulnerability to climate change and community-level adaptation strategies
  • Investigating community-level perspectives on wildland fire management, perceived risk and socially acceptable levels of landscape change

Education

  • Ph.D., Sociology and Certificate in Demography, 2015. - The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY
    Dissertation Title: Income Inequality and Urban Vulnerability to Flood Hazard in Brazil
  • M.B.A., Management, 2008. - Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
  • B.A., American Studies, 2002. - Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

Background

Prior to her appointment with the Forest Service, Rebecca served as the Senior Project Manager and Statistical Consultant for the Social Science Research Council, conducting both quantitative and qualitative research and analysis. She has also worked with international development and eco-tourism organizations across six continents, focused on sustainable development and environmental policy, including Global Giving, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Acumen Fund and TechnoServe. Rebecca served as an agro-forestry and micro-enterprise development volunteer in the Peace Corps.

Rebecca’s research with the ALWRI is focused on how demographic trends may be impacting Wilderness values and uses. She is also a Presidential Management Fellow with the Forest Service, appointed as the Regional Social Scientist for Region 1, in Missoula, MT.

Research Projects

  • Investigating inter-generations differences in Wilderness values
  • Mapping current and future Wilderness visitors, given demographic trends and forecasts
  • Researching cross-cultural differences in Wilderness values, uses and visitation

Publications

  • Rasch, Rebecca. 2016. “Income Inequality and Flood Hazard in Brazilian Municipalities." Social Science Quarterly. DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12274
  • Rasch, Rebecca. 2015. “Assessing Urban Vulnerability to Flood Hazard in Brazilian Municipalities." Environment and Urbanization. DOI: 10.1177/0956247815620961
  • Rasch, Rebecca. 2015. “Income Inequality and Flood Hazard in Brazil.” Berkeley Journal of Sociology. http://berkeleyjournal.org/2015/08/income-inequality-and-flood-hazard-in-brazil
  • Rasch, Rebecca. 2015. “Measuring the Middle Class in Middle Income Countries.” Forum for Social Economics. DOI: 10.1080/07360932.2015.1044258