Matthew R. Auer

• PhD, Yale University, Forestry and Environmental Studies, 1996
• MS, Yale University, Forestry and Environmental Studies, 1994
• MALD, Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1990
• AB, Harvard University, Anthropology, 1988

• International Forest Policy
• International Energy Policy
• International Environmental Policy
• Environmental Communication
• Policy Sciences
• Foreign Aid

• Fellow, National Academy of Public Administration (2023). Congressionally-chartered academy that produces research to address government’s most pressing challenges.
• Career Advocate Award (2020). For efforts to promote career development and success of undergraduates by the UGA Career Center.
• Gordon Faculty Award (2012-13). For outstanding contributions to the Division of Student Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington.
• Runner-Up, Pioneer Institute Better Government Competition (2012). One of four runners-up in a national competition “that seeks out and rewards the most innovative public policy proposals.” Proposal considered the devolution of federally-sponsored foreign aid training programs to state departments of higher education and state colleges and universities.
• Highly Commended Paper, Emerald Group Publishing (2011). Awarded to “Appraising Climate Change Information Reported to Congress.” Co-authored by Michael Cox, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management.
• Harold D. Lasswell Prize (2010). Awarded to the best article published in Policy Sciences in 2010 as determined by the journal’s international editorial board. Title of article: “Communication and Competition in Environmental Studies.”
• Fellow, Academic Leadership Program, Committee on Institutional Cooperation (2007-2008). “…designed to develop the leadership and managerial skills of faculty on CIC (Big Ten) campuses who have demonstrated exceptional ability and administrative promise.”
• Appointee, IU LeaD (2006). IU LeaD “provides a formal system for identifying…the next generation of both academic and administrative leaders at Indiana University.”
• Nominee, Student Choice Award for Outstanding University Professors, IU Student Alumni Association (2012; 2006; 2005; 2004; 2001; 1999). A “nomination by one or more students…for making a difference in the life and education of your students.”
• President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2005). Indiana University Office of the President’s award for distinguished teaching.
• Trustee Teaching Award, Indiana University (2005; 2002; 2001). “…awarded to six percent of tenured and tenure-track faculty members (of each department and professional school) who have demonstrated that they are the best teachers.”
• Outstanding Instructor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs (2004; 2001; 1998). In recognition of outstanding instruction in the core (2001; 1998) and non-core (2004) undergraduate curricula of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University.
• Commendation, U.S. Forest Service (2003). In recognition of outstanding service to U.S. Forest Service International Programs.
• Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching Award (2002). A competitive honor awarded by Indiana University in recognition of special distinction in teaching and demonstrated commitment to student learning.
• Myres McDougal Prize, Society for the Policy Sciences (2001). For exemplary policy sciences research (for “Who Participates in Global Environmental Governance? Partial Answers from International Relations Theory,” Policy Sciences 33(2): 155-180).
• Indiana University Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, Indiana University (2000). “…given to junior faculty members who show promise of achieving great distinction as scholars or artists.”
• Teaching Excellence Recognition Award (1999; 1998; 1997). For exemplary contributions to the teaching mission of SPEA and Indiana University.
• Award of Excellence (1995). Prize for the best project funded by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in 1994-1995. Project involved comparative energy audits of high-occupancy buildings in Nanjing, China and New Haven, Connecticut.

Auer, Matthew R. (forthcoming). “Wildfire Risk and Insurance: Research Directions for Policy Scientists,” Policy Sciences, doi: 10.1007/s11077-024-09528-7.

Auer. Matthew R. and Hexamer, Benjamin. 2022. “Income and Insurability as Factors in Wildfire Risk,” Forests 2022, 13(7), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071130.

Auer, Matthew R. 2021. “Considering Equity in Wildfire Protection,” Sustainability Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01024-8.

Auer, Matthew R. 2021. “Proverbs of Administration at 75. Long Live Proverbs?” Teaching Public Administration. https://doi.org/10.1177/01447394211013845.

Auer, Matthew R. 2021. “Covid-19 Crisis Communications: The Challenge for Environmental Organizations,” Environmental Science and Policy, Vol. 115, No. 1: 151-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.08.009.

Auer, Matthew R. 2019, “Environmental Sustainability in the Age of Climate Change,” Sustainability, Vol. 11, No. 18, 5001. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/18/5001/htm

Auer, Matthew R. 2017. “Rescuing the Decision Process,” Policy Sciences, Vol. 50, No. 4: 519-526.

Auer, Matthew R. 2016. “The Hardest Part of Integrated Planning,” Planning for Higher Education, Vol. 44, No. 2: 3-7.

Auer, Matthew and Fu, King-wa. 2015. “Clearing the Air: Investigating Weibo Censorship in China,” Index on Censorship, Vol. 44, No. 3: 76-79.

Auer, Matthew R. 2014. “Collective Action and the Evolution of Social Norms: The Principled Optimism of Elinor Ostrom,” Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, Vol. 6, No. 4: 265-271.

Auer, Matthew R., Zhang, Yuman, Lee, Priscilla. 2014. “The Potential of Microblogs for the Study of Public Perceptions of Climate Change,” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, Vol. 5 (May/June): 291-296.

Auer, Matthew R. 2012. “Group Forest Certification for Smallholders in Vietnam: An Early Test and Future Prospects,” Human Ecology, Vol. 40, No. 1: 5-14.

Auer, Matthew R. 2011. “The Policy Sciences of Social Media,” Policy Studies Journal, Vol. 39, No. 4: 709-739.

Expert Commentary

Auer, Matthew R. 2023. “Opinion: The ‘Isakson Way’ still points us toward political civility,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Auer, Matthew R. 2022. “In Praise of Patriotic Bunting,” Chicago Tribune.

Auer, Matthew R. 2021. “Community and Homeowner Fire Mitigation,” Insurance.com.https://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance/natural-disasters/homeowner-fire-policy-coverage.html#Community_and_homeowner_fire_mitigation

Auer, Matthew R. 2021. “10 States with the Highest Wildfire Risk,” Expertinsurancereviews.com. https://www.expertinsurancereviews.com/states-highest-wildfire-risk/