Amanda E Cravens, Ph.D.
Amanda Cravens is a Research Social Scientist at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Amanda's interdisciplinary research interests include the translation of scientific information into decision making, policies and institutions that influence environmental management, and understanding the cognitive and social processes that make decision support tools work effectively. Amanda's disciplinary training includes geography, policy/institutional analysis, and the learning sciences. Her research spans resource areas, with recent and current projects focusing on decision support for coastal hazards, human dimensions of ecological drought, socioeconomic aspects of water availability, and land manager decision making in the face of ecological transformation. She is also very interested in the practice of interdisciplinary science and has served as a member of multiple working groups as well as published on the role of creativity in science.
Professional Experience
Research Social Scientist, USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR (2023-present)
Research Social Scientist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO (2017-2023)
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow (Social Science), USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO (2015-2017)
Early Career Fellow, Gould Center for Conflict Resolution, Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA (2014-2015)
Dachs Fellow, Stanford Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (2009-2014)
Information Architect and Web Editor, SustainAbility Ltd, London UK (2008-2009)
Fulbright Graduate Fellow (New Zealand) (2006-2008)
Internet Coordinator, Resources for the Future, Washington DC (2005-2007)
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environment and Resources, Stanford University, 2014
M.A. Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2008
B.A. History, Swarthmore College, 2004
Affiliations and Memberships*
Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (2023 to present)
North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (2015 to 2023)
Science and Products
Identifying Characteristics of Actionable Science for Drought Planning and Adaptation
Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness
Policy Analysis and Decision Support
How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools (or Not)
Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group
How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools
Getting ahead of flash drought: From early warning to early action
Perceptions of conservation introduction to inform decision support among U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees
Science facilitation: Navigating the intersection of intellectual and interpersonal expertise in scientific collaboration
Murky waters: Divergent ways scientists, practitioners, and landowners evaluate beaver mimicry
Navigating ecological transformation: Resist-accept-direct as a path to a new resource management paradigm
Institutional barriers to actionable science: Perspectives from decision support tool creators
A science agenda to inform natural resource management decisions in an era of ecological transformation
Responding to ecological transformation: Mental models, external constraints, and manager decision-making
Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance
A typology of drought decision making: Synthesizing across cases to understand drought preparedness and response actions
Integrating ecological impacts: Perspectives on drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States
Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California
Science and Products
Identifying Characteristics of Actionable Science for Drought Planning and Adaptation
Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness
Policy Analysis and Decision Support
How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools (or Not)
Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group
How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools
Getting ahead of flash drought: From early warning to early action
Perceptions of conservation introduction to inform decision support among U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees
Science facilitation: Navigating the intersection of intellectual and interpersonal expertise in scientific collaboration
Murky waters: Divergent ways scientists, practitioners, and landowners evaluate beaver mimicry
Navigating ecological transformation: Resist-accept-direct as a path to a new resource management paradigm
Institutional barriers to actionable science: Perspectives from decision support tool creators
A science agenda to inform natural resource management decisions in an era of ecological transformation
Responding to ecological transformation: Mental models, external constraints, and manager decision-making
Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance
A typology of drought decision making: Synthesizing across cases to understand drought preparedness and response actions
Integrating ecological impacts: Perspectives on drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States
Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government