Thomas J. Wilbanks
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
P.O. Box 2008
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6206
Tel: (865) 574-5515; Fax: (865) 576-2943
Education
1960
B.A. Trinity University
1967
M.A. Syracuse University
1969
Ph.D. Syracuse University
Research Interests
Realizing sustainable development.
Relationships between society and technology.
Responses to concerns about global environmental change.
Energy and environmental policy analysis, including technology assessment; regional assessment; environmental, social, and economic impact assessment; R&D policy.
Institution-building, especially for R&D activities and for energy and environmental policymaking and decisionmaking.
Geographic scale as an issue in sustainability science, including roles of cross-scale interactions.
Regional development, particularly problems of developing regions and cross-cultural comparisons of determinants.
Employment History
1987-present
Corporate Research Fellow and Leader, Global Change and Developing Country Programs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
1998-present
Associate, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
200-2002
Acting Co-Director, Oak Ridge Center for Advanced Studies
1983-present
Adjunct Professor of Geography, University of Tennessee
1980-1987
Associate Director and Head of Programs and Planning, Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
1980-1981
Acting Director, Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
1977-1980
Senior Planner, Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
1974-1977
Research Fellow, Science and Public Policy Program, The University of Oklahoma
1973-1977
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, The University of Oklahoma
1973
Research Director, Syracuse-Yugoslav Project on Environmental Policy and Planning, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
1971-1972
Executive Director, Urban Transportation Institute, Syracuse University
1969-1973
Assistant Professor of Geography, Syracuse University
1969
Lecturer in Geography, Syracuse University
Professional Service/Activities
Member - Science Steering Group, U.S. Carbon Cycle Program
Co-author - scaling chapter of conceptual framework report, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, UN Environment Programme et al.
Member - IPCC Working Group II (Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities), Third Assessment Report; lead author of chapter 7 (human settlements, energy, and industry) and of the synthesis report and summary for policymakers
Member - Advisory Committee, Human-Environmental Research Observatories, NSF-supported national program led by the Pennsylvania State University
Coordinator - Inter-regional Forum, U.S. National Assessment of Vulnerabilities to Climate Variability and Change
Member - Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council
Member - Committee on Human Dimensions of Global Change, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council
Member - Panel on Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council
Publications
Wilbanks, T.J. 1002. Geography and Technology, in Technology and Geography: A Social History, S. Brunn, S. Cutter, J. Harrington (eds.), Dordrecht: Kluwer.
Wilbanks, T.J., et al. 2003. Possible Responses to Global Climate Change: Integrating Mitigation and Adaptation. Environment 45(5):28-38.
Wilbanks, T.J. and R. Kates. 2003. Making the Global Local: Responding to Climate Change Concerns from the Bottom Up. Environment 45(3):12-23.
Wilbanks, T.J., and D. Capistrano, et al. 2003. Dealing with Scale, Conceptual Framework, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Kuala Lumpur, Island Press, pp. 107-126.
Wilbanks, T.J. and E.A. Parson, et al. 2003. Understanding Climatic Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation in the United States: Building a Capacity for Assessment. Climatic Change 57:9-42.
Wilbanks, T.J., S. Cutter, and D. Richardson. 2003. The Geographical Dimensions of Terrorism, Routledge, New York.
Wilbanks, T.J., R. Kates, and R. Abler. 2003. Global Change and Local Places: Estimating, Understanding, and Reducing Greenhouse Gases, Cambridge University Press.
Wilbanks, T.J. 2003. Geographic Scaling Issues in Integrated Assessments of Climate Change, in Scaling Issues in Integrated Assessment, J. Rotmans and D. Rothman (eds.). Swets and Zeitlinger 5-34.
Wilbanks, T.J., and W.C. Clark, et al. 2000. Assessing Vulnerability to Global Environmental Risks, Discussion Paper 2000-12, Environment and Natural Resources Program, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Wilbanks, T.J., A. Wolfe, and N. Kerchner. 2001. Public Involvement on a Regional Scale. Environmental Assessment Review 21:431-448.
Wilbanks, T.J., and P. Stern. 2001. Policy Implications and Needs for Further Knowledge, New Tools for Environmental Protection: Education, Information, and Voluntary Measures, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council.
Wilbanks, T.J. and R.W. Kates. 1999. Global Change in Local Places. Climatic Change 43(3):601-628.
Wilbanks, T.J. 1994. Sustainable Development' in Geographic Context. Annals, Association of American Geographers, 84:541-57.
Wilbanks, T.J. 1992. Energy Policy Responses to Concerns about Global Climate Change, in Global Climate Change: Implications, Challenges and Mitigation Measures, S. Majumdar, et al. (eds.), Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences, Easton, PA, pp. 452-70.
Wilbanks, T.J., et al. 1989. Decision Making, in Energy Technology R&D: What Could Make a Difference?, W. Fulkerson et al. (eds.), ORNL-6541, Vol. 2, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, pp. 123-37.
Wilbanks, T.J. 1988. Impacts of Energy Development and Use, 1888-2088, in Earth '88: Changing Geographic Perspectives, National Geographic Society, Washington, pp. 96-114.
Wilbanks, T.J. 1985. Geography and National Policy, Annals, Association of American Geographers, LXXV, pp. 4-10.
Wilbanks, T.J., and R. Lee. 1985. Policy Analysis in Theory and Practice, in Large-Scale Energy Projects: Assessment of Regional Consequences, T.R. Lakshmanan and B. Johansson (eds.), North-Holland, Amsterdam 273-303.
Wilbanks, T.J., and E. Aronson, et al. 1984. Energy Use: The Human Dimension, W.H. Freeman, San Francisco.
Wilbanks, T.J. 1982. Is Comprehensive Analysis of Critical Interactions Possible?, in Energy, Economics, and the Environment, G. Daneke (ed.), D.C. Heath, Lexington, MA, pp. 91-110.
Wilbanks, T.J. 1980. Location and Well-being, Harper and Row, New York, 462 pp.
Wilbanks, T.J., and D.E. Kash, et al. 1976. Our Energy Future: The Role of Research, Development, and Demonstration in Reaching a National Consensus on Energy Supply, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 482 pp.
Wilbanks, T.J., and D.E. Kash, et al.. 1974. A Methodology and Documentation for Consistent Analysis of Energy Alternatives, Science and Public Policy Program, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Vol 4., 1400 pp.
Library
