Pierre D. Glynn

Biography

Pierre D. Glynn, Ph.D., recently retired after a 32-year research and management career at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), is devoting his time to conducting interdisciplinary research to advance the science, policy, and management of complex systems and issues.  This includes finding ways to encourage public participation in science, and to increase accountability and follow-through for science, policy, and management decisions.  Pierre is currently Emeritus Scientist with the USGS Science and Decisions Center.  Pierre was also recently recruited to serve on the Advisory Board of the Upper Colorado River Watershed Group (UCRWG). The UCRWG is a volunteer watershed group affiliated with the Colorado Riverkeeper Network and the Waterkeeper Alliance.

Pierre’s current research includes studies on:

• The role of narratives and information in managing natural resources and societal hazards.
• Adaptive management, participatory modeling, and the creation of “Records of Engagement and Decision-Making”.
• Chesapeake Bay watershed modeling and its associated social systems.
• Water and natural capital accounting.
• Value of Information – useability and actionability.
• Integrated modeling and System of Systems modeling.
• The role of human biases, beliefs, heuristics, values, and norms in the conduct of science and policy.

Pierre was recently awarded a Catalyst Leaders Fellowship from the Royal Society of New Zealand to study water science and policy issues (centered around Lake Taupo) in collaboration with the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science, New Zealand).

Pierre’s earlier research efforts at the USGS focused on geochemical modeling, groundwater contamination, nuclear waste disposal, and groundwater dating.  His academic background includes a B.A. in Geological Sciences from Columbia College, an M.Sc. from University of Quebec in Montreal in isotopic environmental geochemistry, and a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, where his studies focused on groundwater studies and the thermodynamics of water-rock interactions.

Selected Publications:

Hedelin, B., Gray, S. Woehlke, S., BenDor, T.K., Singer, A. Jordan, R., Zellner, M., Giabbanelli, P., Glynn, P. Jenni, K., Jetter, A., Kolagani, N., Laursen, B., Leong, K.M., Schmitt Olabisi, L., Sterling, E., What’s left before participatory modeling can fully support real-world environmental planning processes: A case study review, Environmental Modelling & Software, Volume 143, 2021, 105073, ISSN 1364-8152, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105073.

Iwanaga, T., Wang, H., Hamilton, S., Grimm, V.,Koralewski, T., Salado, A., Elsawah, S., Razavi, S., Yang, J., Glynn, P., Badham, J., Voinov, A., Chen, M., Grant, W., Peterson, T., Frank, K., Shenk, G., Barton, C.M., Jakeman, A.J., Little, J.C., Socio-technical scales in socio-environmental modeling: Managing a system-of-systems modeling approach, Environmental Modelling & Software, Volume 135, 2021, 104885, ISSN 1364-8152, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2020.104885.

Bagstad, K.J., Ancona, Z.H., Hass, J.. Glynn, P.D., Wentland, S., Vardon, M., and Fay, J., 2020, Integrating physical and economic data into experimental water accounts for the United States: Lessons and opportunities, Ecosystem Services, Volume 45, 2020, 101182, ISSN 2212-0416, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101182.

Cockerill, K., Glynn, P., Chabay, I. et al. Records of engagement and decision making for environmental and socio-ecological challenges. EURO J Decis Process 7, 243–265 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40070-019-00104-6

Sterling, E.J., Zellner, M., Jenni, K., Leong, K., Glynn, P.D., BenDor, T.K., Bommel, P., Hubacek, K., Jetter, A.J., Jordan, R., Schmitt-Olabisi, L., Paolisso, M., and Gray, S., 2019, Try, try again: Lessons learned from success and failure in participatory modeling, Elementa Sustainability Transitions, v. 7: no. 9, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.347.

Glynn, P.D., Voinov, A.A., and Shapiro, C.D., 2018, Records of engagement and decision tracking for adaptive management and policy development, 2018 IEEE International Symposium on Technology in Society (ISTAS) Proceedings, Paul Cunningham and Miriam Cunningham (Eds), ISBN: 978-1-5386-9479-4, 6 p., DOI: 10.1109/ISTAS.2018.8638273

Voinov, A.A., Jenni, K., Gray, S., Kolagani, N., Glynn, P.D., Bommel, P., Prell, S., Zellner, M., Paolisso, M., Jordan, R., Sterling, E., Schmitt-Olabisi, L., Giabbanelli, P.J., Sun, Z., Le Page, C., Elsawah, S., BenDor, T.K., Hubacek, K., Laursen, B.K., Jetter, A., Basco-Carrera, L., Singer, A., Young, L.,  Brunacini, J., and Smajgl, A., 2018, Tools and methods in participatory modeling: Selecting the right tool for the job, Environmental Modelling & Software, v. 109, November 2018, p. 232-255, doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.08.028.

Jordan, R., Gray, S., Zellner, M., Glynn, P. D., Voinov, A., Hedelin, B., Sterling, E.J., Leong, K., Schmitt-Olabisi, L., Hubacek, K., Bommel, P., BenDor, T.K., Jetter, A.J., Laursen, B.K., Singer, A., Giabbanelli, P.J., Kolagani, N., Basco-Carrera, L., Jenni, K., and Prell, C., 2018, Twelve questions for the participatory modeling community. Earth’s Future, 6, 1046–1057. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018EF000841

Glynn, P.D., Voinov, A.A., Shapiro, C.D. and White, P.A., 2017, From data to decisions: Processing information, biases, and beliefs for improved management of natural resources and environments. Earth’s Future, 5: 356–378. doi:10.1002/2016EF000487. See EOS Spotlight on the paper.

Voinov, A., Kolgani, N., McCall, M.K., Glynn, P.D., Osterman, F., Palaniappan, R., Pierce, S., and Kragt, M.E., 2016, Modelling with Stakeholders – Next Generation: Environmental Modelling & Software, v. 77, p. 196-220, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364815215301055

Glynn, P.D., 2017/2015, Integrated Environmental Modelling: Human Decisions, Human Challenges.  In Riddick, A.T., Kessler, H. and Giles, J.R.A. (eds), Integrated Environmental Modelling to Solve Real World Problems: Methods, Vision and Challenges. Geological Society of London, Special Publications, v. 408, http://doi.org/10.1144/SP408.9.