Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, PhD

Aparna Bamzai-Dodson is the Acting Director of the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC), one of the nine regional centers that form the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center network.

Aparna Bamzai-Dodson is the USGS Acting Director for the NC CASC. In this role, she undertakes stakeholder and partner engagement to identify strategic science goals, outputs, and objectives. She is also responsible for tracking budget planning and expenditures, organizing the solicitation and review of project proposals, and coordinating efficient and effective communication and collaboration among NC CASC-funded scientists. Aparna has a B.S. in Statistics and Mathematics from Virginia Tech and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University with a focus on Global Environmental Change and has completed the coursework toward her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She completed her Ph.D. through the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Oklahoma, with a focus on the theory and practice of engaging stakeholders in the creation of actionable science for climate adaptation. This research will provide an opportunity for the NC CASC to learn how to improve its practice of producing usable knowledge to support decision making.

Education and Certifications

  • PhD in Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma

  • MS in Environmental Management, Duke University

  • BS in Statistics and Mathematics, Virginia Tech

Science and Products

Training and capacity building activities of Climate Adaptation Science Centers for the benefit of Tribal and Indigenous communities, 2010–2019

Tribal nations and Indigenous communities are key collaborators on adaptation work within the Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) network. The centers have partnered with numerous Tribal and Indigenous communities on projects or activities to better understand the communities’ specific knowledge of and exposure to impacts of climate change, to increase or assist with capacity to support adapt
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

When do climate services achieve societal impact? Evaluations of actionable climate adaptation science

To cope with complex environmental impacts in a changing climate, researchers are increasingly being asked to produce science that can directly support policy and decision making. To achieve such societal impact, scientists are using climate services to engage directly with stakeholders to better understand their needs and inform knowledge production. However, the wide variety of climate-services
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Murky waters: Divergent ways scientists, practitioners, and landowners evaluate beaver mimicry

Beaver mimicry is a fast-growing conservation technique to restore streams and manage water that is gaining popularity within the natural resource management community because of a wide variety of claimed socio-environmental benefits. Despite a growing number of projects, many questions and concerns about beaver mimicry remain. This study draws on qualitative data from 49 interviews with scientist
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Fort Collins Science Center

Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance

Natural and cultural resource managers are increasingly working with the scientific community to create information on how best to adapt to the current and projected impacts of climate change. Engaging with these managers is a strategy that researchers can use to ensure that scientific outputs and findings are actionable (or useful and usable). In this article, the authors adapt Davidson’s wheel o
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Fort Collins Science Center

Managing for a changing climate: A bended interdisciplinary climate course

We developed a blended (or hybrid) interactive course—Managing for a Changing Climate—that provides a holistic view of climate change. The course results from communication with university students and natural and cultural resource managers as well as the need for educational efforts aimed at the public, legislators, and decision-makers. Content includes the components of the physical climate syst
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link
USGS science for a changing world logo

Open-Source and Open-Workflow Climate Futures Toolbox for Adaptation Planning

Global climate models are a key source of climate information and produce large amounts of spatially explicit data for various physical parameters. However, these projections have substantial uncertainties associated with them, and the datasets themselves can be difficult to work with. The project team created the first version (cst 0.1.0) of the Climate Futures Toolbox, an open source workflow in
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
link

Open-Source and Open-Workflow Climate Futures Toolbox for Adaptation Planning

Global climate models are a key source of climate information and produce large amounts of spatially explicit data for various physical parameters. However, these projections have substantial uncertainties associated with them, and the datasets themselves can be difficult to work with. The project team created the first version (cst 0.1.0) of the Climate Futures Toolbox, an open source workflow in
Learn More
link
NDTc - Trail in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area located in Colorado

Approaches to Evaluate Actionable Science for Climate Adaptation

Science produced by the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) network must ideally be scientifically sound, relevant to a management decision, fair and respectful of stakeholders’ divergent values, and produced through a process of iterative collaboration between scientists and managers. However, research that aims to produce usable knowledge and collaborative approaches t...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Approaches to Evaluate Actionable Science for Climate Adaptation

Science produced by the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) network must ideally be scientifically sound, relevant to a management decision, fair and respectful of stakeholders’ divergent values, and produced through a process of iterative collaboration between scientists and managers. However, research that aims to produce usable knowledge and collaborative approaches t...
Learn More
link
A dirt road winds through blue ponds and green prairies of the Northern Great Plains.

Synthesis of CASC-Led Climate Training Activities for Tribes and Indigenous Communities

The Climate Adaptation Science Centers have conducted numerous training and skills development activities to support tribal and indigenous partners as they seek to use scientific information and techniques to understand and respond to climate change impacts. Because these activities were generated in different CASC regions, with different tribal / indigenous stakeholders, climate change contexts,
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Synthesis of CASC-Led Climate Training Activities for Tribes and Indigenous Communities

The Climate Adaptation Science Centers have conducted numerous training and skills development activities to support tribal and indigenous partners as they seek to use scientific information and techniques to understand and respond to climate change impacts. Because these activities were generated in different CASC regions, with different tribal / indigenous stakeholders, climate change contexts,
Learn More
link

North Central CASC Receives Funding from the Community for Data Integration (CDI) for New “Climate Scenarios Toolbox”

With support from the USGS Community for Data Integration (CDI), researchers at the North Central CASC will develop and implement an efficient and...

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Publications

    Training and capacity building activities of Climate Adaptation Science Centers for the benefit of Tribal and Indigenous communities, 2010–2019

    Tribal nations and Indigenous communities are key collaborators on adaptation work within the Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) network. The centers have partnered with numerous Tribal and Indigenous communities on projects or activities to better understand the communities’ specific knowledge of and exposure to impacts of climate change, to increase or assist with capacity to support adapt
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    When do climate services achieve societal impact? Evaluations of actionable climate adaptation science

    To cope with complex environmental impacts in a changing climate, researchers are increasingly being asked to produce science that can directly support policy and decision making. To achieve such societal impact, scientists are using climate services to engage directly with stakeholders to better understand their needs and inform knowledge production. However, the wide variety of climate-services
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    Murky waters: Divergent ways scientists, practitioners, and landowners evaluate beaver mimicry

    Beaver mimicry is a fast-growing conservation technique to restore streams and manage water that is gaining popularity within the natural resource management community because of a wide variety of claimed socio-environmental benefits. Despite a growing number of projects, many questions and concerns about beaver mimicry remain. This study draws on qualitative data from 49 interviews with scientist
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Fort Collins Science Center

    Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance

    Natural and cultural resource managers are increasingly working with the scientific community to create information on how best to adapt to the current and projected impacts of climate change. Engaging with these managers is a strategy that researchers can use to ensure that scientific outputs and findings are actionable (or useful and usable). In this article, the authors adapt Davidson’s wheel o
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Fort Collins Science Center

    Managing for a changing climate: A bended interdisciplinary climate course

    We developed a blended (or hybrid) interactive course—Managing for a Changing Climate—that provides a holistic view of climate change. The course results from communication with university students and natural and cultural resource managers as well as the need for educational efforts aimed at the public, legislators, and decision-makers. Content includes the components of the physical climate syst
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers
  • Science
    link
    USGS science for a changing world logo

    Open-Source and Open-Workflow Climate Futures Toolbox for Adaptation Planning

    Global climate models are a key source of climate information and produce large amounts of spatially explicit data for various physical parameters. However, these projections have substantial uncertainties associated with them, and the datasets themselves can be difficult to work with. The project team created the first version (cst 0.1.0) of the Climate Futures Toolbox, an open source workflow in
    By
    Community for Data Integration (CDI)
    link

    Open-Source and Open-Workflow Climate Futures Toolbox for Adaptation Planning

    Global climate models are a key source of climate information and produce large amounts of spatially explicit data for various physical parameters. However, these projections have substantial uncertainties associated with them, and the datasets themselves can be difficult to work with. The project team created the first version (cst 0.1.0) of the Climate Futures Toolbox, an open source workflow in
    Learn More
    link
    NDTc - Trail in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area located in Colorado

    Approaches to Evaluate Actionable Science for Climate Adaptation

    Science produced by the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) network must ideally be scientifically sound, relevant to a management decision, fair and respectful of stakeholders’ divergent values, and produced through a process of iterative collaboration between scientists and managers. However, research that aims to produce usable knowledge and collaborative approaches t...
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers
    link

    Approaches to Evaluate Actionable Science for Climate Adaptation

    Science produced by the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) network must ideally be scientifically sound, relevant to a management decision, fair and respectful of stakeholders’ divergent values, and produced through a process of iterative collaboration between scientists and managers. However, research that aims to produce usable knowledge and collaborative approaches t...
    Learn More
    link
    A dirt road winds through blue ponds and green prairies of the Northern Great Plains.

    Synthesis of CASC-Led Climate Training Activities for Tribes and Indigenous Communities

    The Climate Adaptation Science Centers have conducted numerous training and skills development activities to support tribal and indigenous partners as they seek to use scientific information and techniques to understand and respond to climate change impacts. Because these activities were generated in different CASC regions, with different tribal / indigenous stakeholders, climate change contexts,
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers
    link

    Synthesis of CASC-Led Climate Training Activities for Tribes and Indigenous Communities

    The Climate Adaptation Science Centers have conducted numerous training and skills development activities to support tribal and indigenous partners as they seek to use scientific information and techniques to understand and respond to climate change impacts. Because these activities were generated in different CASC regions, with different tribal / indigenous stakeholders, climate change contexts,
    Learn More
  • News
    link

    North Central CASC Receives Funding from the Community for Data Integration (CDI) for New “Climate Scenarios Toolbox”

    With support from the USGS Community for Data Integration (CDI), researchers at the North Central CASC will develop and implement an efficient and...

    Read Article