Steve Colt
Interim Director, Associate Professor of Economics
Ph.D., Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1999 .
BA, Economics, Williams College, 1981
Phone: (907) 786-1753
Fax: (907) 786-7739
E-Mail: afsgc@uaa.alaska.edu
Map to my office
I earned my Ph.D. in economics from MIT (1999), and a B.A. in economics with concentration in environmental studies from Williams College (1981). I began working at ISER in 1984 as a Research Associate and, hence, have about 20 years of research experience in Alaska.
My principal research interests include energy economics with emphasis on renewables, isolated utility systems, and the demand side; and the economics of ecosystem services, including tourism and recreation. I used to study Alaska Native corporations, but I have not done this for several years.
My research is typically cross-disciplinary and problem-oriented. For example, I am working with an electrical engineer on concept plans for integrated village energy systems that might displace diesel. I am also working with natural scientists and GIS experts to develop and integrate information on economic use values with biophysical data, using a common geography.
I have joint appointments with the Department of Economics, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and the UAA Liberal Studies Program. I teach economic development, environmental economics and policy, natural resource economics, introduction to environmental studies, and "Science, Technology, and Culture."
Courses
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Fall 2007 Courses are all on Blackboard:
Econ 337 Economic Development
(available for guest and observer access)
[Past Courses]
Recent Stuff
- Alaska's Environmental Assets [March 2008]
- AK PFDs as Basic Income: Mexico City [Nov 2007]
- Nature-Based Tourism in Southeast Alaska [Ongoing]
Thoughts, past courses and photographs can be found on my personal faculty page.
Current Funded Research
St. Paul Fuel Assessment. Funding agencies: Tanadgusix Corporation, University of Alaska Fairbanks, ADEP. Researchers will provide detailed economic and technical assessment of various transportation options for the study of operating a small fleet of 4 passenger vans on energy derived from the wind farm, replacing existing diesel vehicles, including a close assessment of the economic and financial feasibility of each option.
ANCSA Land Management. Funding agency: University of Alaska Foundation
ACCAP: Alaska Center for Climate Assessment & Policy. Funding agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Adapting to Climate Change. Funding Agency: University of Alaska Foundation
SNAP: Scenarios Network for Alaska Planning 2008. This projet is an FY2008 continuation of collaborative network to provide timely access and dellivery of information as well as interpretation of climatic, ecological, and economic change to scenarios of future conditions in Alaska for more effective planning by decision-makers, communities, and industry. Funding agency: UA Foundation
Evaluation of AHF Teacher Training and Sister School Exchange Programs. Continued evaluation of programs for AHF begun in 2000; design/conduct program evaluations and collection of data from teachers/students, analyze data, and make recommendations for improvements. Funding agency:Alaska Humanities Forum
Telemaintenance for Rural Utilities. Researchers will apply industrial ecology methods/ideas to the problem of inadequate utility services in small rural Alaska villages. Focus on maintenance of rural utility systems via existing and emerging "telemaintenance" logistical systems. Funding agency: AT&T Foundation
Understanding Alaska Challenges 2008. Higher Energy Costs. Funding agency: UA Foundation, BP/Conoco Phillips.
Understanding Alaska Choices. Energy Policy:Energy data. Funding agency:UA Foundation, BP/Conoco Phillips.
Alaska Fuel Use Data. ISER researchers will collaborate with AEA to develop an Alaska Energy Statistics system and to publish an initial volume of Alaska Energy Statistics covering electricity, space heating, and transportation. The goal of the system is to track prices and quantities of current energy sources. Funding agency:Alaska Energy Authority (AEA).
Energy Related Programs: Researchers will seek to understand interactions between energy use, energy prices, and economic activity and to use that understanding to inform sound public policy and informed decision-making. Funding agency: UA Foundation/BP Phillips Fund