James R Meldrum, PhD
James Meldrum is an economist in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch at the Fort Collins Science Center. His primary research focus is measuring, modeling, and understanding human relationships with natural resources.
James' economics and applied social science work spans many areas of interest to the USGS and our federal and non-federal partners. His main research topics include measuring, modeling, and understanding human relationships with natural resources, especially through the lens of ecosystem services, and with natural hazards, especially focused on mitigating the risks of wildland fire. James is a founding member of the Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team, an interdisciplinary collaboration focused on coproducing science in support of community wildfire adaptedness and wildfire risk mitigation on private lands, and he is an active participant in numerous USGS- and DOI-wide communities of practice.
Research Interests
- Environmental economics
- Wildfire risk mitigation
- Ecosystem services
- Behavioral economics
Professional Experience
Research Economist; U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Colorado; June 2016 to present
Research Associate; University of Colorado Boulder, Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES); 2012 to 2016
Policy Analysis Intern; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Strategic Energy Analysis Center, Golden, Colorado; 2011 to 2012
Engineering Physicist; Stereotaxis, Inc., Systems Group, St. Louis, Missouri; 2005 to 2006
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2012, University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Studies Program, focus on Environmental Economics
M.S. 2010, University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Studies Program, focus on Environmental Economics
B.S. 2005, Washington University in St. Louis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Primary major in Physics with a secondary major in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology
Science and Products
Economics of Invasive Species
Water Economics
The Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative (SECI)
Actionable social science can guide community level wildfire solutions. An illustration from North Central Washington, US
Wildfire imagery reduces risk information-seeking among homeowners as property wildfire risk increases
You vs. us: Framing adaptation behavior in terms of private or social benefits
Living with wildfire in Grand County, Colorado: 2021 data report
2021 assessment of the Joint Fire Science Program’s Fire Science Exchange Network
Living with wildfire in Teton County, Wyoming: 2021 data report
Parcel-level risk affects wildfire outcomes: Insights from pre-fire rapid assessment data for homes destroyed in 2020 East Troublesome Fire
Living with wildfire in Log Hill Mesa, Ouray County, Colorado: 2017 data report and a comparison to 2011 and 2012 data
Living with wildfire in Chalk Creek, Chaffee County, Colorado: 2019 data report
Putting people first: Using social science to reduce risk
U.S. Geological Survey wildland fire science strategic plan, 2021–26
Would you like to know more? The effect of personalized wildfire risk information and social comparisons on information-seeking behavior in the wildland–urban interface
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Economics of Invasive Species
Water Economics
The Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative (SECI)
Actionable social science can guide community level wildfire solutions. An illustration from North Central Washington, US
Wildfire imagery reduces risk information-seeking among homeowners as property wildfire risk increases
You vs. us: Framing adaptation behavior in terms of private or social benefits
Living with wildfire in Grand County, Colorado: 2021 data report
2021 assessment of the Joint Fire Science Program’s Fire Science Exchange Network
Living with wildfire in Teton County, Wyoming: 2021 data report
Parcel-level risk affects wildfire outcomes: Insights from pre-fire rapid assessment data for homes destroyed in 2020 East Troublesome Fire
Living with wildfire in Log Hill Mesa, Ouray County, Colorado: 2017 data report and a comparison to 2011 and 2012 data
Living with wildfire in Chalk Creek, Chaffee County, Colorado: 2019 data report
Putting people first: Using social science to reduce risk
U.S. Geological Survey wildland fire science strategic plan, 2021–26
Would you like to know more? The effect of personalized wildfire risk information and social comparisons on information-seeking behavior in the wildland–urban interface
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.