My research focuses on environmental issues, especially climate change. I live in Tucson, Arizona, and I am a Regents Professor in the University of Arizona, School of Geography, Development, and Environment. My pronouns are she/hers. I study the human dimensions of global environmental change and climate justice, especially the social causes and consequences of climate change. I recently retired from admin and teaching but I am still very active in research and writing.
Over my career I have taught geography and environmental studies. I helped to build interdisciplinary environmental programs at the University of Arizona, Oxford University in the UK, Penn State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison including directing the Institute of the Environment at the University of Arizona and the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University. I was a PhD student and postdoc at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado (working with Steve Schneider) and received my degrees from UCLA (PhD Geography), University of Toronto (MA Geography) and University College London (BA Geography).
I have been fortunate to lead and serve with a number of national and international projects and committees including the Earth Commission of Future Earth, the US-NRC Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, the US-NRC panel on Informing America’s Climate Choices, the scientific advisory committee for the InterAmerican Institute (IAI) and the ICSU Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS) project. I have been an IPCC lead author for several assessments including the 2018 Special Report on 1.5C.
In 2020 I was honored to be elected to the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and in 2022 as a fellow of the British Academy. I am grateful to the teachers, mentors, friends and dogs who have supported me in work and life.
This web site provides links to my writings – books, articles, media – as well as information on my research interests and projects and the organizations I advise or support. I have supervised more than 70 graduate students who have mentored and inspire me. I am not accepting new students to supervise in Fall 21 or later but am up for informal mentoring.
The best way to contact me is by email at liverman@arizona.edu although like many of you I sometimes get overwhelmed by my email and get behind in my responses
In consultation with Native American scholars the University of Arizona adopted an acknowledgment that states "We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O'odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service." I do my best to be an ally to indigenous colleagues and communities.
