Dave D. White
- Co-Director, Decision Center for a Desert City, Global Institute of Sustainability
- Senior Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability
- Associate Professor, School of Community Resources and Development, College of Public Programs
School of Community Resources and Development
Arizona State University
411 N. Central Ave., Ste. 550
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone:
602-496-0154
480-965-3367
Fax:
602-496-0953
Email:
Dave.White@asu.edu
Home Page:
http://scrd.asu.edu/portal
Biography
Dave White is associate professor in the Arizona State University (ASU) School of Community Resources and Development and Director of the National Science Foundation's Decision Center for a Desert City (DCDC), which studies water-management decisions in the face of growing climatic uncertainty in central Arizona. Dr. White also holds appointments at ASU as Senior Sustainability Scientist with the Global Institute of Sustainability and affiliate faculty with the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes and the School of Public Affairs. Dr. White's research focuses on developing theory and methods for linking knowledge to action for sustainable resource management. With DCDC, he has developed and studied processes, outcomes, and institutional forms of boundary organizations for the co-production of knowledge and decisions; identified divergent perspectives between stakeholder groups at the science-policy nexus; and tested competing methods for gathering information on sensitive topics from decision makers. This work has contributed to the development and refinement of new tools and techniques for collaborative environmental decision making such as DCDC WaterSim. Dr. White is a recipient of the ASU President's Medal for Social Embeddedness. He received his Ph.D. in Forestry from Virginia Tech.
Expertise
natural resource management; social and ecological impacts; water resource management; urban tourism; recreation; community involvement; boundary spanning organizations; climate change impacts; communities; decisionmaking;Education
- Ph.D., Forestry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2002
- M.S., Resource Recreation and Tourism, University of Idaho, 1998
- B.A., History, George Mason University, 1993
Journal Articles
Budruk, M., D. D. White, J. A. Woodrich and C. J. Van Riper. 2008. Connecting visitors to people and place: Visitors' perceptions of authenticity at Canyon de Chelley National Monument, Arizona. Journal of Heritage Tourism 3:185-202. (link)
Childs, C., A. York, D. White, M. Schoon and G. Bodner. In press. Navigating a murky adaptive co-management governance network: TheAgua Fria watershed, Arizona, USA. Ecology and Society.
Cutts, B. B., D. D. White and A. P. Kinzig. 2011. Participatory geographic information systems for the co-production of science and policy in an emerging boundary organization. Environmental Science and Policy 14:977-985.
Larson, K. L., D. Ibes and D. White. 2011. Gendered perspectives about water risks and policy strategies: A tripartite conceptual approach. Environment and Behavior 43:415-438. (link)
Larson, K. L., D. D. White, P. Gober, S. Harlan and A. Wutich. 2009. Divergent perspectives on water resource sustainability in a public-policy-science context. Environmental Science and Policy 12:1012-1023. (link)
Larson, K. L., A. Wutich, D. White, T. A. Munoz-Erickson and S. L. Harlan. 2011. Multifaceted perspectives on water risks and policies: A cultural domains approach in a Southwestern city. Human Ecology Review 18:75-87. (link)
Quay, R., K. L. Larson and D. D. White. 2013. Enhancing water sustainability through university-policy collaborations: Experiences and lessons from researchers and decision-makers. Water Resources IMPACT 15:17-19.
White, D. D., J. F. Aquino, M. Budruk and A. Golub. 2011. Visitors' experiences of traditional and alternative transportation in Yosemite National Park. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 29:38-57. (link)
White, D. D., E. A. Corley and M. S. White. 2008. Water managers' perceptions of the science-policy interface in Phoenix, Arizona USA: Implications for an emerging boundary organization. Society and Natural Resources 21:230-243.
White, D. D., A. Wutich, K. L. Larson, P. Gober, T. Lant and C. Senneville. 2010. Credibility, salience, and legitimacy of boundary objects: Water managers' assessment of a simulation model in an immersive decision theater. Science and Public Policy 37:219-232. (link)
Wutich, A., T. Lant, D. White, K. L. Larson and M. Gartin. 2010. Comparing focus group and individual responses on sensitive topics: A study of water decision-makers in a desert city. Field Methods 22:88-110. (link)
Books and Book Chapters
Barton, C. M. and M. A. Oconnell. In:
White, D., A. Wutich, K. Larson and T. Lant. In press. Understanding uncertainty: Decision makers’ evaluations of WaterSim in the Decision Theater. In: S. Borges Corręia and R. Taddei. eds., Visualizing Water (Un)Sustainability. University of Arizona Press.
Posters/Presentations
Aktipis, C. A., L. Cronk, D. White and A. Wutich. 2011. Resource management and risk pooling: Exploring the viability of indigenous solutions for modern resource management problems. Presented March 13, 2011 at Resilience 2011–Resilience, Innovation, and Sustainability: Navigating the Complexities of Global Change, Second International Science and Policy Conference, Tempe, AZ.
Budruk, M., J. Woodrich and D. White. 2007. Connecting visitors to land, people, and place: The relationship between place attachment and perceptions of cultural authenticity at Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona. Presentation at the 16-20 April GWS Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites, Minnesota.
Cole, Z., D. D. White and M. Budruk. 2010. Native American environmental values and natural resource management practices: Quileute Tribal perspectives. Presentation at the 6-10 June 2010 16th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Gartin, M., T. Lant, A. Wutich, D. White, S. Ledlow and P. Gober. 2007. WaterSim: A study of water-related decision-making under uncertainty. Poster presented at the January 10, 2007 CAP LTER Ninth Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.. (link)
Gartin, M., D. White, T. Lant and P. Gober. 2008. Stakeholder discursive data distortions: An analysis of WaterSim II textual data. Poster presented at the 30 April 2008 Community of Undergraduate Research Scholars (COURS) Poster Session, Tempe, AZ.
Gartin, M., A. Wutich, T. Lant, D. White, K. Larson, S. Ledlow and P. Gober. 2008. Focusing on higher quality focus groups. Poster presented at 10 January 2008 CAP LTER 10th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link)
Howard, J., K. L. Larson, D. White and E. Wentz. 2008. The use of GIS as a decision-support tool by water managers in Phoenix, AZ. Poster presented at 10 January 2008 CAP LTER 10th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Howard, J., K. Larson, D. White and E. Wentz. 2008. Water managers' strategies for addressing uncertainty in their use of GIS for decision making. Poster presented at 10 January 2008 CAP LTER 10th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link)
Mercer, C., L. Cronk, B. Sopher, A. Aktipis, D. White and A. Wutich. 2011. Can water managers' decision making be influenced by an 'imported' cultural norm?. Poster presented on May 4, 2011 at the Community of Undergraduate/Graduate Research Scholars (COURS) Poster Session, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link)
Peterson, A., P. Howe, M. White, D. White and E. Corley. 2006. Expert perspectives of science, politics, and water management in Phoenix. Poster presented at the May 3, 2006 Community of Undergraduate Research Scholars (COURS) Poster Symposium, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link)
Peterson, A., P. Howe, M. White, D. White and E. Corley. 2006. Expert perspectives on science, politics, and water management in Phoenix. Poster presented at the 19 January 2006 CAP LTER 8th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link)
Quay, R., D. Sampson, D. White, C. Kirkwood and P. Gober. 2013. Using advanced scenario analysis as an anticipatory tool: Exploring the uncertainty of urban water demand and supply within central Arizona. Poster presented at the 11 January 2013, 15th Annual CAP LTER Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting 2013, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link)
Quinn, J., D. White, L. Withycombe Keeler, A. Wiek and K. Larson. 2013. The future of water in the desert: Convergence and divergence between decision makers and students. Poster presented February 17, 2013 at the Decision Making Under Uncertainty (DMUU) Session of the AAAS Annual Meeting, February 14-18, 2013, Boston, MA.
Ragan, M. and D. D. White. 2012. How do we catalyze adaptive and innovative practices in public regulatory agencies?. Poster presented on April 25, 2012 at the Decision Center for a Desert City Annual Poster Symposium, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Rosales Chavez, J., A. Wutich, D. White, K. Larson and A. Brewis. 2013. Cross-cultural perspectives on uncertainty in climate science: Preliminary results from DCDC and the Global Ethnohydrology Study. Poster presented February 17, 2013 at the Decision Making Under Uncertainty (DMUU) Session of the AAAS Annual Meeting, February 14-18, 2013, Boston, MA.
Senneville, C., K. Larson, A. Wutich, T. Lant, M. Gartin, D. White, S. Ledlow and P. Gober. 2008. "Missed opportunities" in Central Arizona water management: Reconciling the local supply of and demand for science. Poster presented at 10 January 2008 at the CAP LTER 10th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link)
White, D. D. 2004. Decision Center for a Desert City (DCDC): Science, policy, and the construction of a boundary-spanning organization. Paper presented at the June 2-4, 2004 International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Keystone, CO.
White, D. D. 2012. Boundary work for water sustainability and urban climate adaptation: Lessons from the Decision Center for a Desert City. Presented November 12, 2012 at the Carnegie Mellon University Climate and Energy Decision Making Seminar, Pittsburgh, PA.
White, D. and E. Corley. 2005. Citizen and expert perspectives on water sustainability in Arizona. Presented at the August 5, 2005 Arizona Water Summit, Flagstaff, AZ.
White, D. and V. K. Turner. 2013. Uncertainty frames in water policy debates. Poster presented February 17, 2013 at the Decision Making Under Uncertainty (DMUU) Session of the AAAS Annual Meeting, February 14-18, 2013, Boston, MA.
White, D. D., A. Wiek, L. Keeler, K. Larson, R. Quay and G. Basile. 2012. Selecting and assessing distinct scenarios for sustainable water governance strategies in Phoenix, Arizona USA. Presented June 18, 2012 at the 18th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM), June 17-22, 2012, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
White, D. D., A. Y. Wutich, K. L. Larson, P. Gober, T. Lant and C. Senneville. 2010. How do we better link knowledge and action for environmental decision making?. Poster presented February 21, 2010 at the 2010 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Meeting, San Diego, CA.
White, D. D., A. Wutich, S. Ledlow and P. Gober. 2007. Credibility, saliency, and legitimacy of boundary objects for water resource decision making: Assessing stakeholder response to DCDC WaterSim. Paper presented at the June 17-21, 2007, 13th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Park City, UT.
Withycombe Keeler, L., A. Wiek, D. White, K. Larson and K. Jung. 2012. Envisioning water futures in the greater Phoenix area: What do we want the future to look like?. Poster presented on April 25, 2012 at the Decision Center for a Desert City Annual Poster Symposium, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Withycombe Keeler, L., A. Wiek, D. White, R. Quay and J. Quinn. 2013. Quenching our thirst: Future scenarios of water in Phoenix. Poster presented February 17, 2013 at the Decision Making Under Uncertainty (DMUU) Session of the AAAS Annual Meeting, February 14-18, 2013, Boston, MA.
Wutich, A., T. Lant, M. Gartin, D. White and K. L. Larson. 2007. Getting hard-to-get data: Are group interviews really better?. Paper presented at the November 29 - December 2, 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington, DC.
