Robert Thompson Associate Professor of Marine Affairs and Community Planning     Education: J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California (Berkeley) Ph.D., Planning, University of California (Berkeley)   Research Areas: Planning and natural systems Environmental impact assessment Coastal planning, natural hazards, property law GIS, computer models, and visual simulation in planning Global climate change and coastal communities   Selected Publications:   Thompson, Robert. (forthcoming) Cultural Models and Shoreline Social Conflict, Coastal Management 35 (2). Thompson, Robert. (forthcoming) Affordable 24-Hour Coastal Access: Saving a Working Stiff's Place in Paradise. Ocean and Coastal Law Journal 12 (1). Thompson, Robert, R. Burroughs, and T. Smythe. 2006. Exploring the Connections Between Ferries and Urban Form: Some Considerations Before Jumping on Board. Journal of Urban Technology 13(2): 25-52. Thompson, Robert. 2006. Property Theory and Owning the Sandy Shore: No Firm Ground to Stand On. Ocean and Coastal Law Journal 11: 47-72. Thompson, Robert. 2006. How Are They Thinking? Individuals and Planning Problems. Journal of Planning Education and Research. 25(3):327-328. Thompson, Robert. 2005. Reporting Offshore Wind Power: Are Newspapers Facilitating Informed Debate on Coastal Issues? Coastal Management 33: 247-262. Thompson, Robert and W. Green. 2005. When sustainability is not a priority: an analysis of trends and strategies. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 6(1): 7-17. Thompson, Robert. 2004. Overcoming Barriers to Ecologically-Sensitive Land Management: Green Developments and the Development of a Land Ethic. Journal of Planning Education and Research 24(2): 141-153. Winner of the Chester Rapkin award for the best article in JPER in 2004. Thompson, Robert. 2004. Pursuing sustainability from the middle: the experience at the University of Rhode Island. The Declaration. 7(1). Opaluch, James, Peter August, Robert Thompson, and Virginia Lee. 2002. In Linking Agent Models and Controlled Laboratory Experiments for Managing Community Growth, in D. Parker, T. Berger, and S. Manson (Eds.), Agent-Based Models of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change. Bloomington, IN: LUCC Report Series No. 6. Thompson, Robert H., Mary F. Hutchinson, and William DiLibero. 2001. GIS Creates New Opportunities and Issues for Coastal Communities. Maritimes. 43(1): 13-16. Opaluch, James J., Virginia Lee, Robert Johnston, Carol Baker, and Robert Thompson. 2001. Using GIS to Help Communities Visualize the Consequences of Change. Maritimes 43(1): 6-9.   Recent Conference Papers:   Burroughs, R., R. Thompson, and T. Smythe. Cars on Islands: Do Transportation Options Change Behavior? Presented at the Coastal Society's 20th International Conference, St. Pete's Beach, FL., May 16th, 2006. Thompson, R., R. Burroughs, and T. Smythe. What Role Might Ferries Play in Urban Transportation Systems. Presented at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, Kansas City, MO, October 29th, 2005. Thompson, R. Cultural Models of Property and Conflict on the Shore. Presented at Coastal Zone 05, New Orleans, July 21st, 2005. Thompson, R. Local Conceptualizations of Climate Change and Coastal Hazards: A Case of Regional Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning. Presented at Coastal Zone 05, New Orleans, July 23rd, 2005. Thompson, R. Offshore Wind Power and the Papers. Presented at the Coastal Society's 19th International Conference, Newport, RI, May 26, 2004. Thompson, R. Campus Planning and 3-D Simulation: Reflections from Decision-Makers. With Jim Opaluch and Huiting Zhaung and presented at Northeast Arc User Group Conference. Bretton Woods, NH. 2002. Thompson, R. Why Not Sustainable Institutions? Barriers to Implementing Sustainable Plans and Practices in the Academy." With William Green and presented at Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Conference. Syracuse, NY. 2002.   Funded Research:   Consortium for Atlantic Regional Assessment (CARA). CARA is a collaboration among four universities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and public and private stakeholders in the Mid- and Upper-Atlantic region. CARA provides scientific information and tools that government agencies, communities, citizens, businesses and other stakeholders can use to assess and adapt to the potential impacts of changes in land use and climate where they live, work, and play. Professors Thompson and Opaluch from the Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics are the PIs from URI. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the funding agency for 2002 through 2005. For more information see www.cara.psu.edu. Sustainability: A Curricular Model and Program to Promote Core Values for a Green Campus. This federal grant is supporting the development of a minor in sustainability at URI. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is the funding agency for 2002 through 2004. Prototype Decision Support System for Coastal Development in Washington County, Rhode Island. This project combines computer simulation models with technology-based tools, such as digital imagery, virtual reality and GIS mapping, to create an interactive decision environment that allows interested parties to visualize consequences of alternative growth management policies. The research is funded by the Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program for 2001 through 2003.