David M. Cochran, Jr., Ph.D. Assistant Professor E-mail: David.Cochran@usm.edu Office: Walker Science, Room 232B Phone : (601) 266-6014 Fax : (601) 266-6219 Personal Webpage

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Education

B.A. 1990 University of Texas
M.A. 1994 George Washington University
Ph.D. 2005 University of Kansas

Teaching Interests

GHY 101	World Regional Geography
GHY 315	Sources, Methods and Analysis in Geography
GHY 331	Cultural Systems in the Environment
GHY 370	Conservation of Natural Resources
GHY 403	Geography of South America
GHY 441	Contemporary Issues in Geography Seminar
GHY 741	Cultural and Political Ecology

Research Interests
Cultural and Political Ecology, Latin America and the Caribbean, Natural Hazards, Conservation Management, International Development

I am a broadly trained cultural geographer with expertise in Latin America and the Caribbean, cultural and political ecology, natural hazards, and participatory research techniques. My Ph.D. dissertation examined the sustainability of indigenous agriculture in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve of eastern Honduras. More recently, I have studied tropical cyclone impacts on the coasts of eastern Honduras as well. I use participatory research techniques extensively in my field work and try to make my research as relevant as possible to local people. I find the study of tropical cyclones to be an exciting area of research and I expect to continue this work elsewhere in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in the coming years.