Peter Newton

  • Associate Professor
  • Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies
  • ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Education

Ph.D. Environmental Sciences – University of East Anglia, UK
M.Sc. Applied Ecology and Conservation – University of East Anglia, UK
B.A. Zoology – University of Cambridge, UK

Research Interest

Dr. Newton is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist who studies socio-environmental systems. His research focuses on two main areas: 1) conservation and sustainable development in tropical forests and 2) sustainable agriculture and food systems. Much of his research is interdisciplinary, systems oriented, and policy-relevant. He works principally in Brazil and the US, but his research has also taken him to Indonesia, Mozambique, Uganda, and Vietnam.

A Note to Prospective Graduate Students

Dr. Newton is always delighted to hear from prospective graduate students who are interested in joining the Group for Interdisciplinary Research on Agriculture, Food, Forests, Environment, and Sustainability (GIRAFFES) to pursue an MS or PhD in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. If you are interested in joining the GIRAFFES and becoming a graduate student with Dr. Newton as your advisor, please complete this Google form: https://forms.gle/QcsKFFpXxcUVUCiZA.

Every year, Dr. Newton receives far more expressions of interest from prospective graduate students than he can hope to reply to individually. This Google form is a way to ensure that every prospective student has an equal opportunity to express their interest in joining the GIRAFFES. Dr. Newton will carefully review every complete submission to this Google form. He will then get in touch with each prospective student: either to talk further and perhaps to encourage them to apply to the MS or PhD program, or to let them know that he does not recognize a good fit or opportunity at this time.

A Note to Prospective ENVS Honors Undergraduate Students

Dr. Newton is always open to hearing from prospective undergraduate students who would like to work with him on an Honors thesis and/or UROP project. If you are interested in working with Dr. Newton, please send him an email outlining your interests. Note that Honors students should typically initiate an advisor-advisee relationship during their Junior year.

A Note to Prospective Visiting Scholars

Dr. Newton loves to welcome visiting scholars! If you are a student or professor with travel funds to spend a semester or year at a different institution and would like to visit us in Boulder, please send an email to peter.newton@colorado.edu.