Anne Toomey is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Science at Â黨´«Ã½ in New York City, where her research centers on leveraging scientific inquiry to address real-world environmental and policy challenges. Her work is grounded in interdisciplinary methods and a commitment to public engagement with science. In 2024, Anne published the award-winning book Science with Impact: How to Engage People, Change Practice, and Influence Policy, which explores how research can meaningfully inform decision-making and drive societal change. Her scholarly work has been cited over 2,000 times and has garnered attention beyond academia, with features in leading science communication platforms such as Massive Science and the Future Tense podcast. Anne earned her Ph.D. in Human Geography from Lancaster University (UK) in 2015. She also holds a dual M.A. in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University (Washington, D.C.) and the University for Peace (Costa Rica), and a B.A. in Communications and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. In addition to her academic work, Anne is the co-founder and executive director of Participatory Science Solutions LLC, a research consulting firm that advances collaborative, science-based decision-making among organizations, communities, and governments. Through this work, she promotes participatory science, rigorous research design, and strategic communication.
ENS 486: Rsrch in Envrnmntl Sci
ENS 798: Tpc: Environmental Science
ENV 100: Water, Wildlife and Windmills
ENV 105: Social Respon and World Nature
ENV 112: Envrnmntl Studies-Basic Issues
ENV 140: Act Locally:Sustain Dsgn & You
ENV 235: Sustainable Living in Our Wrld
ENV 265: Multiple Envrnmntl Knowledges
ENV 297: Nature and the City
ENV 297: Topics: Citizen Science
ENV 390: Internship In Enviro Studies
ENV 395: Independent Study
ENV 396: Internship In Enviro Studies
ENV 498: Mentoring Seminar
ENV 499: Senior Year Exp/Environmental
EP 608: Analytical Mtd for EP Analysis
EP 610: Cntmpry Issues in EP: Capstone
ESP 608: Anlytcl Mthds in Env Sci
ESP 794: Cntmprry Envrnmntl Issues: Cps
Science with Impact: How to Engage People, Change Practice, and Influence Policy
Toomey, A. H. (2024). Science with Impact: How to Engage People, Change Practice, and Influence Policy. Island Press.
Improving citizen science through collaborative research partnerships between social scientists and environmental practitioners
Toomey, A. H., Palta, M., Taliaferrow, R., Swift, T. & Buchanan, R. (2024). Urban Ecosystems.
Why facts don't change minds: Insights from cognitive science for the improved communication of conservation research
Toomey, A. H. (2023). Biological Conservation. Vol 278
The Making of Conservation Landscape: Towards a Practice of Interdependence
Toomey, A. H. (2020). Conservation & Society. Vol 18 (Issue 1) , pages pp. 25-36 .
Place-making, place-disruption, and place protection of urban blue spaces: perceptions of waterfront planning of a polluted urban waterbody
Toomey, A. H., Campbell, L., Johnson, M., Strehlau-Howay, L., , B. M., Thomas, C., Graham, T. & Palta, M. (2020). Local Environment. Vol 26 (Issue 8)
Academic Leaders Must Support Inclusive Scientific Communities During COVID-19
Maas, B., Grogan, K. E., Chirango, Y., Harris , N., Liévano-Latorre, L. F., McGuire, K. L., Moore, A. C., Ocampo-Ariza, C., Palta, M. M., Perfecto, I., Primack, R. B., Rowell, K., Sales, L., Santos-Silva, R., Aparecida Silva, R., Sterling, E. J., Vieira, R. R., Wyborn, C. & Toomey, A. H. (2020). Nature Ecology & Evolution. Vol 4 , pages 997–998.
Writing History in the Present: The implications of localized forms of science in Latin America for a postcolonial world
Toomey, A. H. (2017). Alternautas.
Assessing the evidence of stakeholder engagement in biodiversity conservation
Toomey, A. H., Sterling, E., Sigouin, A., Gomez, A. & Betley, E. (2017). Biological Conservation. Vol 209 , pages 159-171.
What happens at the gap between knowledge and practice? Spaces of encounter and misencounter between environmental scientists and local people.
Toomey, A. H. (2016). Ecology and Society. Vol 21 (Issue 2)
Inter-and transdisciplinary research: A critical perspective
Toomey, A. H., Markusson, N., Adams, E. & Brockett, B. (2015). Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development. Vol 20
Environmental Science Professor Anne Toomey writes a guest post on Democratic Underground outlining strategies for scientists to counteract misinformation by building community engagement rather than solely focusing on facts and EarthSky has the story.
Environmental Science Professor Anne Toomey’s article in The Conversation discussing combating science misinformation, emphasizing that engaging in dialogue and building community trust is more effective than simply repeating facts was recently republished by Cobb Courier.
Environmental Science Professor Anne Toomey pens an op-ed in The Conversation on combating science misinformation, emphasizing that engaging in dialogue and building community trust is more effective than simply repeating facts.