Stephen J. Leisz

Faculty Image

Contact Dr. Leisz:

E-mail: Steve.Leisz@colostate.edu
Phone: (970) 491-3960
Office: Clark B220
Mail: Department of Anthropology
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
80523-1787

 

 

 

 


 

Curriculum Vitae
Publications
Reports
Field Work
Geospatial Lab

Biographical Information:

B.A. - American Studies, Georgetown University
M.Sc. - Environmental Monitoring, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ph.D. - Geography, University of Copenhagen

Geography

RESEARCH: My research is focused in the emerging field of land change science. Through the use of remote sensing data (e.g. current and historical satellite imagery and aerial photographs, LiDAR and RADAR), appropriate fieldwork, and GIS, I investigate the human-environment interactions that lead to land-use and ultimately land-cover changes over local and regional landscapes. I currently have two major research foci. The first, which I have been involved in since 1997, focuses on the way that changing livelihood systems in present day Southeast Asia and Melanesia are influencing land use and land cover changes at local and regional scales, and by extension how these changes are influencing ecosystem services (e.g. carbon sequestration, biodiversity) and local economies. The second makes use of LiDAR, medium and high resolution satellite imagery, and derived digital elevation models integrated with archeological fieldwork to investigate the drivers of land changes in pre-Hispanic central Mexico (more information regarding this project is found at http://resilientworld.com/). In the past I have researched potential climate change impacts on biodiversity and human societies in Melanesia; investigated the relationship between land and natural resource tenure systems and land-use/cover changes in parts of Africa and Madagascar; and looked at land surveying and mapping issues related to squatter settlements in the periphery of Managua, Nicaragua. Due to my interest in the relationship between livelihood system changes and land change, I also am interested in how international development and land change interact. I am the Director of the Geospatial Laboratory which is housed within the Department of Anthropology and the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University and much of my research makes use of the remote sensing and GIS resources that are housed in the laboratory.

CLASSES: The classes I teach reflect my research interests. I also lead independent studies focusing on remote sensing, GIS, and international development studies. Classes that I teach either yearly, on a rotational basis, or occasionally are:

GR 100 Introduction to Geography (yearly)
GR 320 Cultural Geography (yearly)
GR/NR 323 Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation (rotational)
GR 480 A2 Geospatial Applications and Tools for the Social Sciences (occasionally)
GR 480 A6 Land Change Science and Remote Sensing (rotational)
GR/NR 503 Remote Sensing and Image Analysis (rotational)
IE/ANTH 679 Applications of International Development (rotational)

Message to prospective graduate students: Please look through these web pages to see if my research is of interest to you. I regularly advise students in the International Development concentration within Cultural Anthropology and students who are enrolled in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE), an interdisciplinary graduate degree program at CSU that offers MS and PhD degrees in Ecology. Please contact me via email to explore potential options for a graduate degree.