Maxwell T. Boykoff
Position
Associate Professor, Director of the Center for Science and Technology Policy
Department
Environmental Studies Program
Education
- Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz, 2006
Contact
303-735-6316
Location
University of Colorado Boulder - Main Campus, 1333 Grandview Ave.
Publications on the web
ORCID:
Also on the web
Research Interests
I am a CIRES Fellow, an Associate Professor in Environmental Studies with a courtesy appointment in Geography, and Director of the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research (CSTPR). I am also a Deputy Editor at the journal of Climatic Change and a Senior Fellow at the University of Oxford Environmental Change Institute. My research and creative work focus on cultural politics and environmental governance, creative climate communications, science-policy interactions, and climate adaptation. Through connected projects and collaborations, I examine how climate science and policy find meaning in people’s everyday lives, and how this, in turn, feeds back into science and policy decision-making.
Current Research
My research and creative work center on two themes. One is the ‘cultural politics of science, policy, and the environment,’ which refers to how the attitudes, intentions, beliefs, and behaviors of individuals and groups shape (and are shaped by) the perceived spectrum of possible action in the context of environmental challenges such as climate change. A second is the transformations of carbon-based economies and societies, with a particular emphasis on the interface of science, sustainability, and practical action, including policies. Through many connected projects and collaborations, my research commitments involve questions of how climate science and policy find meaning in people’s everyday lives, as well as how this, in turn, feeds back into science- policy decision-making. Together, my work has sought to critically analyze the role of various actors and organizations shaping political and cultural dimensions of environmental science and policy discussions in the public arena.
For example:
- Through the Media and Climate Change Observatory, colleagues and I monitor media coverage of climate change at various scales, updated monthly. We have established and maintain appraisals of 82 sources across 40 countries around the world and monitor country-level coverage in Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, through collaborations with Rogelio Fernandez-Reyes in Spain, and Midori Aoyagi-Usui and Shoko Yamaguchi in Japan, we maintain country-level counts there as well. As offshoots from this work, we work with many partners (e.g., Lancet Countdown on climate change and health issues) and we have produced a number of related reports and journal articles.
- With colleagues Beth Osnes (Theater Department) and Rebecca Safran (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department) we run a multi-faceted project called ‘Inside the Greenhouse’. This project works to deepen our understanding of how issues associated with climate change are/can be communicated, by creating artifacts through interactive theatre, film, fine art, performance art, television programming, and appraising as well as extracting effective methods for multimodal climate communication. We also seek to build competence and confidence in the students with whom we work. The project effectively fosters a deliberative space for CU Boulder students to experiment with creative climate communications and build capacity for more systematic, capable and effective environmental communication strategies. As part of this project we teach numerous courses and produce seasonal events and various research outputs.
Max Boykoff in southern Zambia as part of the CSTPR and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre collaboration, working on climate adaptation and resilience. Photo: Wisford Mudenda
Max Boykoff speaking at side event at the United Nations Conference of Parties meeting on climate change (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo: Gregg Walker
View Publications
- Watts, N, M Amann, S Ayeb-Karlsson, K Belesova, T Bouley, M Boykoff, P Byass, WJ Cai, D Campbell-Lendrum, J Chambers, PM Cox, M Daly, N Dasandi, M Davies, M Depledge, A Depoux, P Dominguez-Salas, P Drummond, P Ekins, A Flahault, H Frumkin, L Georgeson, M Ghanei, D Grace, H Graham, R Grojsman, A Haines, I Hamilton, S Hartinger, A Johnson, I Kelman, G Kiesewetter, D Kniveton, L Liang, M Lott, R Lowe, G Mace, MO Sewe, M Maslin, S Mikhaylov, J Milner, AM Latifi, M Moradi-Lakeh, K Morrissey, K Murray, T Neville, M Nilsson, T Oreszczyn, F Owfi, D Pencheon, S Pye, M Rabbaniha, E Robinson, J Rocklov, S Schutte, J Shumake-Guillemot, R Steinbach, M Tabatabaei, N Wheeler, P Wilkinson, P Gong, H Montgomery and A Costello (2018), The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: from 25 years of inaction to a global transformation for public health. Lancet Version: 1 391 (10120) 581-630, issn: 0140-6736, ids: FV5VB, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32464-9, PubMed ID: 29096948
- Collins, CO, B Blomquist, O Persson, B Lund, WE Rogers, J Thomson, D Wang, M Smith, M Doble, P Wadhams, A Kohout, C Fairall and HC Graber (2017), Doppler Correction of Wave Frequency Spectra Measured by Underway Vessels. J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. Version: 1 34 (2) 429-436, issn: 0739-0572, ids: EL3GM, doi: 10.1175/JTECH-D-16-0138.1
- Fischhendler, I, D Boymel and MT Boykoff (2016), How Competing Securitized Discourses over Land Appropriation Are Constructed: The Promotion of Solar Energy in the Israeli Desert. Environ. Commun. Version: 1 10 (2) 147-168, issn: 1752-4032, ids: DE5DN, doi: 10.1080/17524032.2014.979214
- Goodman, MK, J Littler, D Brockington and M Boykoff (2016), Spectacular environmentalisms: media, knowledge and the framing of ecological politics. Environ. Commun. Version: 1 10 (6) 677-688, issn: 1752-4032, ids: EI4UM, doi: 10.1080/17524032.2016.1219489
- Boykoff, M. T. and G. Luedecke (2016), Elite News Coverage of Climate Change. Oxford Res. Encycl. Clim. Sci. Version: 1, doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228620.013.357
- Boykoff, M (2016), Climate Change as Social Drama: Global Warming in the Public Sphere.. Am. J. Sociol. Version: 1 122 (1) 299-301, issn: 0002-9602, ids: DR8DS, doi: 10.1086/686044
- Boykoff, MT (2016), CONSENSUS AND CONTRARIANISM ON CLIMATE CHANGE HOW THE USA CASE INFORMS DYNAMICS ELSEWHERE. Metode Sci. Stud. J. Version: 1(6) 89-95, issn: 2174-3487, ids: DK5OE, doi: 10.7203/metode.85.4182
- Fischhendler, I, G Cohen-Blankshtain, Y Shuali and M Boykoff (2015), Communicating mega-projects in the face of uncertainties: Israeli mass media treatment of the Dead Sea Water Canal. Public Underst. Sci. Version: 1 24 (7) 794-810, issn: 0963-6625, ids: CQ5EE, doi: 10.1177/0963662513512440, PubMed ID: 24357623
- ONeill, S, HTP Williams, T Kurz, B Wiersma and M Boykoff (2015), Dominant frames in legacy and social media coverage of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report. Nat. Clim. Chang. Version: 1 5 (4) 380-+, issn: 1758-678X, ids: CE5AM, doi: 10.1038/nclimate2535
- Gold, AU, DJ Oonk, L Smith, MT Boykoff, B Osnes and SB Sullivan (2015), Lens on Climate Change: Making Climate Meaningful Through Student-Produced Videos. J. Geogr. Version: 1 114 (6) 235-246, issn: 0022-1341, ids: CZ8DB, doi: 10.1080/00221341.2015.1013974
- Suarez, P, JM de Suarez, B Koelle and M Boykoff (2014), Serious fun Scaling up community-based adaptation through experiential learning. Version: 1 COMMUNITY-BASED ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: SCALING IT UP 136-151, Ed. Schipper, ELF; Ayers, J; Reid, H; Huq, S; Rahman, A, ids: BA2EB, isbn: 978-0-415-62370-4; 978-0-203-10506-1; 978-0-415-62
- Anderegg, WRL, ES Callaway, MT Boykoff, G Yohe and TL Root (2014), AWARENESS OF BOTH TYPE 1 AND 2 ERRORS IN CLIMATE SCIENCE AND ASSESSMENT. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc. Version: 1 95 (9) 1445-1451, issn: 0003-0007, ids: AS7MY, doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00115.1
- Bailey, A, L Giangola and MT Boykoff (2014), How Grammatical Choice Shapes Media Representations of Climate (Un)certainty. Environ. Commun. Version: 1 8 (2) 197-215, issn: 1752-4032, ids: AH2HO, doi: 10.1080/17524032.2014.906481
- Liverman, D, SC Moser, PS Weiland, L Dilling, MT Boykoff, HE Brown, ES Gordon, C Greene, E Holthaus, DA Niemeier, S Pincetl, WJ Steenburgh and VC Tidwell (2013), Climate Choices for a Sustainable Southwest. Version: 1 ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES: A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT 405-435, Ed. Garfin, G; Jardine, A; Merideth, R; Black, M; LeRoy, S, ids: BA8DA, isbn: 978-1-61091-484-0; 978-1-59726-420-4, doi: 10.5822/978-1-61091-484-0_18
- ONeill, SJ, M Boykoff, S Niemeyer and SA Day (2013), On the use of imagery for climate change engagement. Glob. Environ. Change-Human Policy Dimens. Version: 1 23 (2) 413-421, issn: 0959-3780, ids: 135YV, doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.11.006
- Boykoff, M. T. and S. K. Olson (2013), ‘Wise contrarians’: a keystone species in contemporary climate science, politics and policy. Celebrity Studies Version: 1 4 (3) 276-291, doi: 10.1080/19392397.2013.831618
- Boykoff, MT (2013), Public Enemy No. 1?: Understanding Media Representations of Outlier Views on Climate Change. Am. Behav. Sci. Version: 1 57 (6) 796-817, issn: 0002-7642, ids: 201BC, doi: 10.1177/0002764213476846
- Boykoff, MT and T Yulsman (2013), Political economy, media, and climate change: sinews of modern life. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev.-Clim. Chang. Version: 1 4 (5) 359-371, issn: 1757-7780, ids: 201UV, doi: 10.1002/wcc.233
- Boykoff, MT (2012), Digitally Enabled Social Change: Activism in the Internet Age. Contemp. Sociol.-J. Rev. Version: 1 41 (4) 486-487, issn: 0094-3061, ids: 965IC, doi: 10.1177/0094306112449614h
- Rick, UK, MT Boykoff and RA Pielke (2011), Effective media reporting of sea level rise projections: 1989-2009. Environ. Res. Lett. Version: 1 6 (1) , Art. No. 14004, issn: 1748-9326, ids: 746RE, doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/6/1/014004
- Boykoff, MT, D Frame and S Randalls (2010), Discursive stability meets climate instability: A critical exploration of the concept of climate stabilization in contemporary climate policy. Glob. Environ. Change-Human Policy Dimens. Version: 1 20 (1) 53-64, issn: 0959-3780, ids: 557MF, doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.09.003
- Knight, J, C Caseldine and MT Boykoff (2010), Why We Disagree About Climate Change. Understanding Controversy, Inaction and Opportunity.. Geogr. J. Version: 1 176 267-269, issn: 0016-7398, ids: 635CW, doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4959.2010.00371.x
- Boykoff, M (2010), Turning down the heat: the politics of climate policy in affluent democracies. Environ. Plan. C-Gov. Policy Version: 1 28 (3) 569-570, issn: 0263-774X, ids: 625LU
- Bottrill, C, D Liverman and M Boykoff (2010), Carbon soundings: greenhouse gas emissions of the UK music industry. Environ. Res. Lett. Version: 1 5 (1) , Art. No. 14019, issn: 1748-9326, ids: 575VR, doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/5/1/014019
- ONeill, SJ and M Boykoff (2010), Climate denier, skeptic, or contrarian?. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. Version: 1 107 (39) E151-E151, issn: 0027-8424, ids: 655AA, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1010507107, PubMed ID: 20807754
- Hulme, M, M Boykoff, J Gupta, T Heyd, J Jaeger, D Jamieson, MC Lemos, K O'Brien, T Roberts, J Rockstrom and C Vogel (2009), Conference Covered Climate from All Angles. Science Version: 1 324 (5929) 881-882, issn: 0036-8075, ids: 445KD
- Boykoff, MT (2009), We Speak for the Trees: Media Reporting on the Environment. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. Version: 1 34 431-457, issn: 1543-5938, ids: 523NW, isbn: 978-0-8243-2334-9, doi: 10.1146/annurev.environ.051308.084254
- Boykoff, M. (2009), Los medios y la comunicación científica. Infoamérica Version: 1 1 117-127
- Boykoff, M (2009), El caso del cambio climático: los medios y la comunicación científica científica. Infoamérica Version: 1 Agosto-Diciembre 117-127
- Boykoff, M. (2008), The Real Swindle. Nature Reports Climate Change Version: 1 2 (2) 31-32, doi: 10.1038/climate.2008.14
- Boykoff, MT (2008), The cultural politics of climate change discourse in UK tabloids. Polit. Geogr. Version: 1 27 (5) 549-569, issn: 0962-6298, ids: 349JQ, doi: 10.1016/j.polgeo.2008.05.002
- Boykoff, MT and M Mansfield (2008), 'Ye Olde Hot Aire'*: reporting on human contributions to climate change in the UK tabloid press. Environ. Res. Lett. Version: 1 3 (2) , Art. No. 24002, issn: 1748-9326, ids: 319PX, doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/3/2/024002
- Boykoff, MT (2007), From convergence to contention: United States mass media representations of anthropogenic climate change science. Trans. Inst. Br. Geogr. Version: 1 32 (4) 477-489, issn: 0020-2754, ids: 227PY, doi: 10.1111/j.1475-5661.2007.00270.x
- Boykoff, MT (2007), Flogging a dead norm? Newspaper coverage of anthropogenic climate change in the United States and United Kingdom from 2003 to 2006. Area Version: 1 39 (4) 470-481, issn: 0004-0894, ids: 232NA, doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4762.2007.00769.x
- Khalsa, SJS, MB Dyurgerov, T Khromova, BH Raup and RG Barry (2004), Space-based mapping of glacier changes using ASTER and GIS tools. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing Version: 1 23rd International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2003) 42 (10) 2177-2183, TOULOUSE, FRANCE, JUL 21-25, 2003, issn: 0196-2892, ids: 863ZP, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2004.834636
