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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

School of Natural Resources

From Earth to Sky and Everything In Between

Human Dimensions Program


Faculty of the National Drought Mitigation Center, part of the School of Natural Resources, traveled to the Hualapai Indian Reservation along Arizona's Colorado River to interview officials about the effects of recent drought.
Faculty of the National Drought Mitigation Center, part of the School of Natural Resources, traveled to the Hualapai Indian Reservation along Arizona's Colorado River to interview officials about the effects of recent drought.
UNL Water Center associate director Mike Jess fields a television news interview during the 2003 summer water and natural resources tour through the Republican River basin. Jess's experience as the former director of the Nebraska Department of Water Resources enables him to share his unique expertise in the complex relationship between natural resource science and policy issues.
UNL Water Center associate director Mike Jess fields a television news interview during the 2003 summer water and natural resources tour through the Republican River basin. Jess's experience as the former director of the Nebraska Department of Water Resources enables him to share his unique expertise in the complex relationship between natural resource science and policy issues.
The Drought Impact Reporter is an interactive tool developed by the NDMC to collect, quantify, and map reported drought impacts for the United States. The timely information provided by the Drought Impact Reporter will help U.S. policy and decision makers identify what types of impacts are occurring and where, and therefore plan and respond more effectively to drought.
The Drought Impact Reporter is an interactive tool developed by the NDMC to collect, quantify, and map reported drought impacts for the United States. The timely information provided by the Drought Impact Reporter will help U.S. policy and decision makers identify what types of impacts are occurring and where, and therefore plan and respond more effectively to drought.

The Human Dimensions program in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln strives to build a strong scientific base for understanding and affecting human thought toward natural and managed environments, with the goal of improving stewardship of ecosystems and natural resources. Environmental managers are finding it increasingly necessary to understand people’s attitudes, behaviors, and needs and incorporate them into natural resources planning. They may also be called upon to facilitate collaboration between groups, help resolve conflicts, create policies, and advocate for environmental issues. Understanding the human element of natural resources management is essential for accomplishing these tasks and improving the stewardship of ecosystems and natural resources.

The broad human dimensions component within SNR includes specialties in agroecology; climate variability and change; water resources; forest ecology; fisheries and wildlife; community and regional planning; environmental and ecological economics; and environmental justice, human rights, and law. The program is aimed at developing skills and tools to build and encourage a conservation ethic in the human use (and non-use) of natural and environmental resources, advise decision makers on natural resource and environmental policy issues, and ultimately, enhance stewardship of our natural resources.

Nebraska provides a unique environment for integrating human dimensions research and education into natural resource science. The eastern third of the state contains an urban-rural interface that is becoming an ever more important focal point of study. the Sand Hills region in the north central portion of Nebraska is another important ecosystem for study. Nebraska is also heavily reliant on the High Plains Aquifer, the largest aquifer system in North America. In addition, eco-tourism accounts for a growing share of the state's economy, especially as it relates to Nebraska being in the central flyway. These features, along with the state's agricultural and other natural resources, provide a host of learning and applied research opportunities.

A graduate degree with a specialization in human dimensions at both the M.S. and Ph.D. level is available for those students who wish to pursue this exciting field of study.

Recent Human Dimensions Projects Involving Faculty and Graduate Students

Related Links

Several SNR faculty and collaborating faculty from other departments are also active in regional, national, and international projects in the field of human dimensions. For example, the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) and affiliated faculty are involved in numerous projects to assess the use and value of climate information in decision making and the development of improved decision support tools. In addition to the NDMC, the School of Natural Resources is also home to the High Plains Regional Climate Center, Great Plains Regional Center for Global Environmental Change, and the Center for Advanced Land Management and Information Technologies. Other centers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that offer opportunities for students in the field of human dimensions are the Water Center, Center for Great Plains Studies, Center for Applied Rural Innovation, and Public Policy Center. All of these centers create many regional, national, and international opportunities for research dealing with the human dimensions of natural resources.

In addition, social scientists from other departments collaborate with SNR to teach and advise students as part of the human dimension graduate specialization. These departments include: Agricultural Economics, Anthropology and Geography, Community and Regional Planning, Psychology, and the College of Law.

Primary Program Contact

Dr. Donald A. Wilhite
Director, National Drought Mitigation Center
Professor, School of Natural Resources
819 Hardin Hall
3310 Holdrege Street
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68583-0988
Phone: (402) 472-4270
Fax: (402) 472-3610
Email: dwilhite1@unl.edu