The Modeling for Human-And-Nature Interactions (MoHANI) group is recently moved to the Department of F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences at University of Geneva, Switzerland (we were previously at Oregon State University). We want to answer pressing land/forest related sustainability questions by revealing the mechanisms of the human and nature interactions. Our interests at the nexus of biodiversity conservation, human health and food production in wide range of landscapes.
For us, modeling is a way to tell a unique story with unambiguous and transparent language and to guide us through often complex interactions. Since human and natural processes share "space" in common, spatial analyses comes handy to investigate deeply interdisciplinary investigation. Our approach also includes, depending on a project, computer simulation, remote sensing and drones, biological sampling and community interviews. We believe in dataset with the strong emphasis on biological and social evidence.
Overview
We are broadly interested in novel methods to reveal the secrets of biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability. Our approach is based on social and ecological systems (SESs) perspective and how SES feedbacks influence the status of biodiversity and human health.
For these purposes, spatial analysis present a strong tool and a useful viewpoint, because most human and nature interactions are spatially explicit. Wide range of spatial modeling is available for us - geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, spatial statistics, land cover and land use change (LUCC) modeling. We tend to develop our own SES simulation using Agent-based modeling, and seeks ways to intervene through systematic conservation planning tools. We conduct field work, ranging remote sensing, drones, acoustic sampling and community survey.
Below are two main categories we are currently engaged. For more detailed information on projects, please contact us.