Maxwell Boykoff
- Professor
- Institute Fellow, CIRES
- Chair of Department
- ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
- COOPERATIVE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Education
Max earned a PhD in Environmental Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz, an MBA from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a BS in Psychology from The Ohio State University.
Research Interests
Max’s research and creative work has developed primarily in two arenas:
1) cultural politics of science, climate change and environmental issues = this refers to ways that attitudes, intentions, beliefs and behaviors of individuals and groups shape (and are shaped by) the perceived spectrum of possible action in the context of science-policy, climate change and environmental issues.
2) transformations of carbon-based economies and societies (with emphasis on the interface of science and practical action) = this refers to decarbonization politics, policies and decision-making, with particular interest in how these activities find meaning in people’s everyday lives, as well as how they, in turn, feed back into science-policy decision-making. Max integrates these research and creative works with ongoing commitments to mentorship, teaching and service.
Biography
Max is a Professor in the Environmental Studies department at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is also a Fellow in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. Max has ongoing research interests in science and environmental communications, science-policy interactions, political economy, business and the environment (with negotiations, marketing and advertising concentrations). He has experience working in several country contexts, and is a co-author and editor of seven books and edited volumes, along with many articles, reports and book chapters. Max also leads the Media and Climate Change Observatory (MeCCO) while he co-Directs Inside the Greenhouse.
A Note to Prospective Graduate Students
Max Boykoff is open to connecting with prospective graduate students for Fall 2025.
A Note to Prospective ENVS Honors Undergraduate Students
Research focuses include cultural politics and climate change. Prospective students are asked to submit a CV/Resume and a brief description detailing their interests and availability.