Christopher Scott, Ph.D.
- Goddard Chair - Forestry & Environ. Conservation
- Professor - Ecosystem Science & Management
University Park, PA 16802
- Email cascott@psu.edu
- PDF Curriculum Vitae
Areas of Expertise
- Watersheds, high mountain hydrology, glacier loss
- Water-energy-food nexus, water security, transboundary waters
- Resource conservation and policy, climate adaptation
- Energy transitions, renewables, carbon mitigation
- Resilience, adaptation, social-ecological systems
- Appalachians, Alleghenies, Andes, Himalayas
Professor Scott holds the Maurice K. Goddard Chair in Forestry and Environmental Resource Conservation, a Pennsylvania State University Endowed Chair based in the College of Agricultural Sciences and housed in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, where he is a Professor. He is also Science Director of the Americas WEF Nexus Alliance and Associate Director and co-funded Professor of the Institute of Energy and the Environment. His research, extension, and engagement focus on natural resource conservation and policy, climate-smart forestry, watershed science and management, the water-energy-food nexus, interstate and transboundary waters, climate adaptation and resilience, and energy transitions, with emphasis on the Appalachians, Alleghenies, and international efforts in the Andes and Himalayas.
The Goddard Chair is funded by Penn State along with income derived from earnings of this endowment. The position was created to honor and extend the science-and-policy legacy of Maurice K. Goddard, PhD (1912-1995), who served as Director of the School of Forestry at Penn State and later as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, which ultimately became the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Past Goddard Chairs include Calvin W. DuBrock (2015-2018), James R. Grace (2010-2014), Robert B. McKinstry, Jr. (2001-2007), Caren E. Glotfelty (1995-2000), Steven G. Thorne (1991-1994), Benjamin A. Jayne (1988-1991), and Arthur A. Davis (1984-1987). The Goddard Chair focuses on goals broadly related to outreach connected to natural resource conservation, policy development and professional development, student engagement and achievement, and ensuring a legacy of resource sustainability. The Chair position attests to the University's commitment and dedication to the conservation, allocation and protection of natural resources.
Professor Scott is Director Emeritus of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, Professor Emeritus of the School of Geography, Development & Environment, and University Distinguished Scholar -- all of the University of Arizona, where he worked from 2006-2021. Prior appointments include with the National Weather Service, International Water Management Institute, environmental NGOs, and contract employment with the U.S. Agency for International Development and Federal Emergency Management Agency. He earned his PhD and MS at Cornell University, BS and BA at Swarthmore College, and graduated from Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India.
(Updated: January 2025)
Publications
Transdiciplinary planning using WEF Nexus serious games: Towards watershed management implementation, Santos, T., None, González, C., None, Scott, Christopher, Prieto, J., None, Longo, M., Tarazona, M., Orrego, S., None, 2024
Glacier lake outburst floods: Loss of life and infrastructure, Shirsat, T.S., Moktan, A., None, Scott, Christopher, 2024
Four birds with one stone? opportunities and challenges in adopting solar irrigation for a sustainable water-energy-food nexus with carbon credits
Water International, Patel, Praharsh M., Scott, Christopher A., Brent, Daniel A., 2024
Transdisciplinary Design of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Analysis and Support for Tropical River Governance in the Sevilla River Basin, Magdalena, Colombia, González, C., None, Santos, T., None, Prieto, J., None, Scott, Christopher, Longo, M., Tarazona, M., Orrego, S., None, 2023
Groundwater: Deep need, deep trouble, Scott, Christopher, 2023
The paracommons of competition for resource savings: Irrigation water conservation redistributes water between irrigation, nature, and society
Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Lankford, Bruce A., Scott, Christopher A., 2023
Evaluación del proyecto de saneamiento transfronterizo en Ambos Nogales. Identificación de lo homogéneo y lo diverso
Estudios Fronterizos, Garcia, R., A. Zuniga, L. Cervera, C.A. Scott, S. Peña, T. Balarezo, S. Buechler, J. Muñan, K. Martinez, None, Scott, Christopher, 2023
Hydrology, water resources availability and management in the Andes under climate change and human impacts
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, Drenkhan, Fabian, Huggel, Christian, Hoyos, Natalia, Scott, Christopher A., 2023
Renewable Electricity Production in Mountain Regions: Toward a People-Centered Energy Transition Agenda
Mountain Research and Development, Scott, Christopher A., Khaling, Sarala, Shrestha, Padmendra P., Sebastián Riera, F., Choden, Kinley, Singh, Kasvi, 2023
Trade-offs of wastewater irrigation, Qadir, Manzoor, Scott, Christopher A., 2023
Mountains
Working Group II, Sixth Assessment Report AR6, Adler, Carolina, Wester, Philippus, Scott, Christopher, 2022
Putting Water Security to Work: Addressing Global Sustainable Development Challenges, Staddon, Chad, Scott, Christopher, 2022
Advancing United States-Mexico Binational Sustainability Partnerships, Scott, Christopher A., White, Jordyn, Kreidler, Heather, 2022
Land use and land cover changes resulting from the urban El Molinito reservoir in the drying Sonoran River Basin
Urban Water Journal, Díaz-Caravantes, Rolando E., Romo-Leon, Jose R., Mendez-Estrella, Romeo, Scott, Christopher A., 2022
Scientific diasporas and the advancement of science diplomacy: The InFEWS US-China program in the face of confrontational “America First” diplomacy
Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, Prieto, Julian, Scott, Christopher A., 2022
Spatial Variations and Long-Term Trends (1901–2013) of Rainfall Across Uttarakhand Himalaya, India, Mal, Suraj, Arora, Manohar, Banerjee, Abhishek, Singh, R. B., Scott, Christopher A., Allen, Simon K., Karki, Ramchandra, 2022
Determining the quasi monsoon front in the Indian Himalayas
Quaternary International, Mal, S., Dimri, A. P., Jeelani, G., Allen, S. K., Scott, C. A., Arora, M., Banerjee, A., Lone, S. A., 2021
Spatio-temporal dynamics of climate change, land degradation, and water insecurity in an arid rangeland: The Río San Miguel watershed, Sonora, Mexico
Journal of Arid Environments, Lee, Ryan H., Navarro-Navarro, Luis Alan, Ley, América Lutz, Hartfield, Kyle, Tolleson, Douglas R., Scott, Christopher A., 2021
Sacrificing the local to support the national: Politics, sustainability, and governance in Nepal's hydropower paradox
Energy Research and Social Science, Crootof, Arica, Shrestha, Rashmi, Albrecht, Tamee, Ptak, Thomas, Scott, Christopher A., 2021
Linking drought propagation with episodes of climate-Induced water insecurity in Pernambuco state - Northeast Brazil
Journal of Arid Environments, Inocêncio, Tiago de Morais, Ribeiro Neto, Alfredo, Oertel, Melanie, Meza, Francisco Javier, Scott, Christopher A., 2021
Do ecosystem insecurity and social vulnerability lead to failure of water security?
Environmental Development, Scott, Christopher A., Zilio, Mariana I., Harmon, Thomas, Zuniga-Teran, Adriana, Díaz-Caravantes, Rolando, Hoyos, Natalia, Perillo, Gerardo M.E., Meza, Francisco, Varady, Robert G., Neto, Alfredo Ribeiro, Velez, Maria Isabel, Martín, Facundo, Escobar, Jaime, Piccolo, M. Cintia, Mussetta, Paula, Montenegro, Suzana, Rusak, James A., Pineda, Nicolas, 2021
Dialogic science-policy networks for water security governance in the arid Americas
Environmental Development, Lutz-Ley, América N., Scott, Christopher A., Wilder, Margaret, Varady, Robert G., Ocampo-Melgar, Anahi, Lara-Valencia, Francisco, Zuniga-Teran, Adriana A., Buechler, Stephanie, Díaz-Caravantes, Rolando, Ribeiro Neto, Alfredo, Pineda-Pablos, Nicolás, Martín, Facundo, 2021
Net Zero Urban Water from Concept to Applications: Integrating Natural, Built, and Social Systems for Responsive and Adaptive Solutions
ACS ES and T Water, Crosson, Courtney, Achilli, Andrea, Zuniga-Teran, Adriana A., Mack, Elizabeth A., Albrecht, Tamee, Shrestha, Padmendra, Boccelli, Dominic L., Cath, Tzahi Y., Daigger, Glen T., Duan, Jennifer, Lansey, Kevin E., Meixner, Thomas, Pincetl, Stephanie, Scott, Christopher A., 2021
Hydro-energy cooperation in South Asia: Prospects for transboundary energy and water security
Environmental Science and Policy, Saklani, Udisha, Shrestha, Padmendra P., Mukherji, Aditi, Scott, Christopher A., 2020
A scale-based framework to understand the promises, pitfalls and paradoxes of irrigation efficiency to meet major water challenges
Global Environmental Change, Lankford, Bruce, Closas, Alvar, Dalton, James, López Gunn, Elena, Hess, Tim, Knox, Jerry W., van der Kooij, Saskia, Lautze, Jonathan, Molden, David, Orr, Stuart, Pittock, Jamie, Richter, Brian, Riddell, Philip J., Scott, Christopher A., Venot, Jean philippe, Vos, Jeroen, Zwarteveen, Margreet, 2020
Hydrodiplomacy and adaptive governance at the U.S.-Mexico border: 75 years of tradition and innovation in transboundary water management
Environmental Science and Policy, Wilder, Margaret O., Varady, Robert G., Gerlak, Andrea K., Mumme, Stephen P., Flessa, Karl W., Zuniga-Teran, Adriana A., Scott, Christopher A., Pablos, Nicolás Pineda, Megdal, Sharon B., 2020
The re-adaptation challenge: limits and opportunities of existing infrastructure and institutions in adaptive water governance
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Scott, Christopher A., Shrestha, Padmendra P., Lutz-Ley, America N., 2020
Editorial overview: Resilience and complexity in social–ecological systems: theory, applications, and methods
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Le Tourneau, François Michel, Scott, Christopher A., 2020
Assessing barriers and enablers in the institutionalization of river-basin adaptive management: evidence from the Maipo Basin, Chile
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Vicuña, Sebastian, Scott, Christopher A., Borgias, Sophia, Bonelli, Sebastian, Bustos, Eduardo, 2020
Urban water security: a comparative study of cities in the arid Americas
Environment and Urbanization, Díaz-Caravantes, Rolando E., Zuniga-Teran, Adriana, Martín, Facundo, Bernabeu, Marta, Stoker, Philip, Scott, Christopher, 2020
Pursuing water security in socio-hydrological systems
Water Security, Scott, Christopher A., Hill, Alice F., Wilson, Alana M., 2019
Assessing livelihood-ecosystem interdependencies and natural resource governance in Indian villages in the Middle Himalayas
Regional Environmental Change, Everard, Mark, Gupta, Nishikant, Scott, Christopher A., Tiwari, Prakash C., Joshi, Bhagwati, Kataria, Gaurav, Kumar, Smita, 2019
One swallow does not make a summer: Siloes, trade-offs and synergies in the water-energy-food nexus
Frontiers in Environmental Science, Kurian, Mathew, Scott, Christopher, Reddy, V. Ratna, Alabaster, Graham, Nardocci, Adelaide, Portney, Kent, Boer, Rizaldi, Hannibal, Bryce, 2019
Institutional strategies for adaptation to water stress in farmer-managed irrigation systems of Nepal
International Journal of the Commons, Thapa, Bhuwan, Scott, Christopher A., 2019
Water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Scott, Christopher A., Zhang, Fan, Mukherji, Aditi, Immerzeel, Walter, Mustafa, Daanish, Bharati, Luna, 2019
Putting water security to work: addressing global challenges
Water International, Staddon, Chad, Scott, Christopher A., 2018
Water security and the pursuit of food, energy, and earth systems resilience
Water International, Scott, Christopher A., Albrecht, Tamee R., De Grenade, Rafael, Zuniga-Teran, Adriana, Varady, Robert G., Thapa, Bhuwan, 2018
Drought propagation in semi-arid river basins in Latin America: Lessons from Mexico to the Southern Cone
Water (Switzerland), Oertel, Melanie, Meza, Francisco Javier, Gironás, Jorge, Scott, Christopher A., Rojas, Facundo, Pineda-Pablos, Nicolás, 2018
Connecting plant traits and social perceptions in riparian systems: Ecosystem services as indicators of thresholds in social-ecohydrological systems
Journal of Hydrology, Hough, Moira, Pavao-Zuckerman, Mitchell A., Scott, Christopher A., 2018
Drought adaptation and development: small-scale irrigated agriculture in northeast Brazil
Climate and Development, Herwehe, Lauren, Scott, Christopher A., 2018
Assessment of collective production of biomethane from livestock waste for urban transportation mobility in Brazil and the United States
Energies, Pasqual, Janaina Camile, Bollmann, Harry Alberto, Scott, Christopher A., Edwiges, Thiago, Baptista, Thais Carlini, 2018
The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A systematic review of methods for nexus assessment
Environmental Research Letters, Albrecht, Tamee R., Crootof, Arica, Scott, Christopher A., 2018
Water security: A review of place-based research
Environmental Science and Policy, Gerlak, Andrea K., House-Peters, Lily, Varady, Robert G., Albrecht, Tamee, Zúñiga-Terán, Adriana, de Grenade, Rafael Routson, Cook, Christina, Scott, Christopher A., 2018
Intensive precipitation observation greatly improves hydrological modelling of the poorly gauged high mountain Mabengnong catchment in the Tibetan Plateau
Journal of Hydrology, Wang, Li, Zhang, Fan, Zhang, Hongbo, Scott, Christopher A., Zeng, Chen, Shi, Xiaonan, 2018
Megatrends in Hindu Kush Himalaya: Climate Change, Urbanisation and Migration and Their Implications for Water, Energy and Food, Mukherji, Aditi, Scott, Christopher, Molden, David, Maharjan, Amina, 2018
Evolving conceptions of the role of large dams in social-ecological resilience
Conservation Ecology, Hammersley, Mia A., Scott, Christopher, Gimblett, Randy, 2018
Pursuing water security
Water Security, Lall, Upmanu, Davis, Jenna, Scott, Christopher, Merz, Bruno, Lundqvist, Jan, 2017
Historical analysis of riparian vegetation change in response to shifting management objectives on the Middle Rio Grande
Land, Petrakis, Roy E., Van Leeuwen, Willem J.D., Villarreal, Miguel L., Tashjian, Paul, Russo, Regina Dello, Scott, Christopher A., 2017
Bringing the Hydrosocial Cycle into Climate Change Adaptation Planning: Lessons from Two Andean Mountain Water Towers
Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Mills-Novoa, Megan, Borgias, Sophia L., Crootof, Arica, Thapa, Bhuwan, de Grenade, Rafael, Scott, Christopher A., 2017
Anticipatory capacity in response to global change across an extreme elevation gradient in the Ica Basin, Peru
Regional Environmental Change, de Grenade, Rafael, Rudow, Joshua, Taboada Hermoza, Rossi, Adauto Aguirre, Maria Elena, Scott, Christopher A., Willems, Bram, Schultz, Jennifer L., Varady, Robert G., 2017
Traffic-related trace elements in soils along six highway segments on the Tibetan Plateau: Influence factors and spatial variation
Science of the Total Environment, Wang, Guanxing, Zeng, Chen, Zhang, Fan, Zhang, Yili, Scott, Christopher A., Yan, Xuedong, 2017
Social networks for management of water scarcity: Evidence from the San Miguel Watershed, Sonora, Mexico
Water Alternatives, Navarro-Navarro, Luis Alan, Moreno-Vazquez, Jose Luis, Scott, Christopher A., 2017
Re-linking governance of energy with livelihoods and irrigation in Uttarakhand, India
Water (Switzerland), Buechler, Stephanie, Sen, Debashish, Khandekar, Neha, Scott, Christopher A., 2016
Scientists, Policymakers, and Stakeholders Plan for Climate Change: A Promising Approach in Chile’s Maipo Basin
Environment, Ocampo-Melgar, Anahí, Vicuña, Sebastián, Gironás, Jorge, Varady, Robert G., Scott, Christopher A., 2016
Water resources sustainability in a globalizing world: who uses the water?
Hydrological Processes, Konar, Megan, Evans, Tom P., Levy, Morgan, Scott, Christopher A., Troy, Tara J., Vörösmarty, Charles J., Sivapalan, Murugesu, 2016
A Paradox of Plenty: Renewable Energy on Navajo Nation Lands
Society and Natural Resources, Pasqualetti, Martin J., Jones, Thomas E., Necefer, Len, Scott, Christopher A., Colombi, Benedict J., 2016
Metrics for assessing adaptive capacity and water security: common challenges, diverging contexts, emerging consensus
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Garfin, Gregg M., Scott, Christopher A., Wilder, Margaret, Varady, Robert G., Merideth, Robert, 2016
Towards characterizing the adaptive capacity of farmer-managed irrigation systems: learnings from Nepal
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Thapa, Bhuwan, Scott, Christopher, Wester, Philippus, Varady, Robert, 2016
The nexus: reconsidering environmental security and adaptive capacity
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, de Grenade, R., House-Peters, L., Scott, C. A., Thapa, B., Mills-Novoa, M., Gerlak, A., Verbist, K., 2016
Desalination and water security in the US–Mexico border region: assessing the social, environmental and political impacts
Water International, Wilder, Margaret O., Aguilar-Barajas, Ismael, Pineda-Pablos, Nicolás, Varady, Robert G., Megdal, Sharon B., McEvoy, Jamie, Merideth, Robert, Zúñiga-Terán, Adriana A., Scott, Christopher A., 2016
Reductionist and integrative research approaches to complex water security policy challenges
Global Environmental Change, Zeitoun, Mark, Lankford, Bruce, Krueger, Tobias, Forsyth, Tim, Carter, Richard, Hoekstra, Arjen Y., Taylor, Richard, Varis, Olli, Cleaver, Frances, Boelens, Rutgerd, Swatuk, Larry, Tickner, David, Scott, Christopher A., Mirumachi, Naho, Matthews, Nathanial, 2016
Rural and urban transitions with biogas and biomethane in brazil: A water-energy-food nexus analysis
Renewable Energy and Power Quality Journal, Pasqual, J. C., Bollmann, H. A., Scott, C., Andersen, S., Lange, M. V., 2016
Enhancing Water Governance for Climate Resilience: Arizona, USA—Sonora, Mexico Comparative Assessment of the Role of Reservoirs in Adaptive Management for Water Security, Scott, Christopher A., Lutz-Ley, America N., 2016
Secure water supply in water-scarce regions, Meza, Francisco, Scott, Christopher A., 2016
Understanding factors influencing hydro-climatic risk and human vulnerability: Application of systems thinking in the Himalayan Region, Misra, Gourav, Misra, Harekrishna, Scott, Christopher A., 2016
The water-energy-food nexus in the Ganges Basin: Challenges and opportunities, Scott, Christopher A., Crootof, Arica B., Thapa, Bhuwan, Shrestha, Rashmi Kiran, 2016
Integrating local users and multitiered institutions into the IWRM process, Lee, Ryan H., Herwehe, Lauren, Scott, Christopher A., 2015
Global energy development and climate-induced water scarcity-Physical limits, sectoral constraints, and policy imperatives
Energies, Scott, Christopher A., Sugg, Zachary P., 2015
Effects of irrigated parks on outdoor residential water use in a semi-arid city
Landscape Planning, Halper, Eve B., Dall'erba, Sandy, Bark, Rosalind H., Scott, Christopher A., Yool, Stephen R., 2015
The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity to Complex Global Challenges, Scott, Christopher A., Kurian, Mathew, Wescoat, James L., 2015
Infrastructure sufficiency in meeting water demand under climate-induced socio-hydrological transition in the urbanizing Capibaribe River basin – Brazil
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Ribeiro Neto, A., Scott, C. A., Lima, E. A., L. Montenegro, S. M.G., Cirilo, J. A., 2014
Irrigation efficiency and water-policy implications for river basin resilience
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Scott, C. A., Vicuña, S., Blanco-Gutiérrez, I., Meza, F., Varela-Ortega, C., 2014
Interbasin water transfers at the US-Mexico border city of Nogales, Sonora: Implications for aquifers and water security
International Journal of Water Resources Development, Prichard, Andrea Harrop, Scott, Christopher A., 2014
Rethinking integrated water resources management: Towards water and food security through adaptive management, López-Gunn, Elena, Akhmouch, Aziza, Aldaya, Maite M., De Linaje, Virginia Alonso, Ballestero, Maureen, Bea, Manuel, Hirata, Ricardo, Kuroiwa, Julio M., Mayor, Beatriz, Perez, Lorena, Chang, Patricia Phumpiu, Scott, Christopher, Villarroya, Fermín, Zorrilla-Miras, Pedro, Jacobi, Pedro Roberto, Suarez, Andrea, Toto, Roberto Constantino, 2014
Drought and water scarcity: Discourses and competing water demands in the context of climate change in arid sonora, mexico, Curl, Katherine, Neri, Carolina, Scott, Christopher, 2014
Raising agricultural productivity with reduced use of energy and groundwater: Role of market instruments and technology, Kumar, M. Dinesh, Scott, Christopher A., Singh, O. P., 2014
