Milan Shrestha
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Mail code: 7904Campus: Tempe
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Milan is an Associate Teaching Professor with background in environmental anthropology, international development, and geospatial analysis. Milan’s expertise is socio-cultural dimensions of agriculture-food systems, common pool resources, and disaster risks. He also specializes in an interdisciplinary approach that combines social data with geospatial analysis and visualization techniques to reveal complex patterns of environmental change such as, land cover change, landscape fragmentation, deforestation, and urban growth. More recently, his research has focused on the agriculture-water-climate change nexus, particularly how people respond to climate change, glacial flood hazards and disaster risks, and how their sociocultural, economic and institutional factors might influence their social adaptation strategies.
- Ph.D. Ecological and Environmental Anthropology, University of Georgia
- M.A. International Development, Clark University
With a long-term research focus in Nepal and the US Southwest, Milan has been studying how shared cultural knowledge and rules shape people's perception and decision-making on these sustainability challenges: 1) agriculture and food systems, 2) urban-rural linkages of land systems, 3) cryospheric disaster risks, and 4) common-pool resources. As an applied anthropologist, his research projects are interdisciplinary in nature and he combines anthropological methods (e.g., ethnography, surveys, ethnoecology) and geospatial analysis and visualization technique to better understand the intersectionality between societal roles and complex patterns of environmental change such as, deforestation, urban growth, landscape fragmentation, and melting glaciers.
More recently, his research has focused on the climate change-water-agriculture nexus, particularly how people respond to climate change, glacial flood hazards and disaster risks, and how their sociocultural, economic and institutional factors might influence their social adaptation strategies.
Byers, A. C., D. H. Shugar, M. B. Chand, C. Portocarrero, M. Shrestha, D. R. Rounce, & T. Watanabe. 2022. Three Recent and Lesser-Known Glacier-Related Flood Mechanisms in High Mountain Environments. Mountain Research and Development, 42(2), A12-A22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00045.1
Adhikari, J., M. Shrestha, & D. Paudel. 2021. Nepal’s growing dependency on food imports: A threat to national sovereignty and ways forward. Nepal Public Policy Review, 1, 68–86. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12345/nppr.1.12345
Byers, A. C., T. Gustafsson, M. Shrestha, N. Chhetri. 2020. A Sustainable Solid Waste Management Plan for Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal. Mountain Research and Development, 40(3):A1-A9 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-20-00018.1
Byers, A. C, M. B. Chand, J. Lala, M. Shrestha, E. A. Byers, and T. Watanabe. 2020. Reconstructing the History of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, East Nepal: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Sustainability, 12(13), 5407; doi.org/10.3390/su12135407
Thompson, I., M. Shrestha, N. Chhetri, & D. B. Agusdinata. 2020. An institutional analysis of glacial floods and disaster risk management in the Nepal Himalaya. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 47: 101567. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101567
Byers, A.C., E. Byers, M. Shrestha, D. Thapa, & B. Sharma. 2020. Impacts of Yartsa Gunbu Harvesting on Alpine Ecosystems in the Barun Valley, Makalu-Barun National Park, Nepal. HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies 39(2): 44-59
Sherpa, S., M. Shrestha, H. Eakin, H., & C. G. Boone. 2019. Cryospheric Hazards and Risks Perceptions in the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal. Natural Hazards. DOI:10.1007/s11069-018-3560-0
Ishtiaque, A., M. Shrestha, & N. Chhetri. 2017. Rapid Urban Growth in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: Monitoring Land Use Land Cover Dynamics of a Himalayan City with Landsat Imageries. Environments, 4(4), 72. DOI:10.3390/environments4040072
Chaudhary, P., N. B. Chhetri, B. Dorman, T. Gegg, R. B. Rana, M. Shrestha, K. Thapa, K. Lamsal and S. Thapa. (2015). Turning conflict into collaboration in managing commons: A case of Rupa Lake Watershed, Nepal. International Journal of the Commons 9(2):744-771.
Wagley, U. and M. Shrestha. (2015). Poverty in Nepal. In Encyclopedia of World Poverty 2nd Edition, edited by Mehmet Odekon. SAGE Reference
Shrestha, M. (2014). The Changing Dynamics of Mountain Agriculture and Land Use in Lamjung, Nepal. Global Environmental Research, 18: 173-182
S. Zhang, A York, C. Boone, and M Shrestha. (2013). Methodological Advances in the Spatial Analysis of Land Fragmentation. Professional Geographer DOI:10.1080/00330124.2012.700501
Shrestha, M., A York, C. Boone, and S. Zhang. (2012). Land Fragmentation due to Rapid Urbanization in the Metropolitan Phoenix Area: Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Patterns and Drivers. Applied Geography, 32(2): 522-531. DOI:10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.04.004
York, A., M. Shrestha, C. Boone, S. Zhang. (2011). Land Fragmentation under Rapid Urbanization: A Cross-site Comparative Analysis. Urban Ecosystems, 14(3): 429–455
- LTER: CAP IV - Investigating urban ecology and sustainability through the lens of Urban Ecological Infrastructure. Childers, D., Selover, N., Grimm, N., ...Shrestha, M., ....National Science Foundation (NSF) 12/1/18 → 11/30/22
- Shrestha, Milan*. CNH-L: Science-Driven, Community-Based Approach to Reducing Glacier Lake. Dynamics of Coupled Natural Human Systems (CNH) grant (Grant no. ICER 1516912) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). $1,491,539.00 (8/1/2015-7/31/2019)
- Chhetri,Netra B*, Shrestha,Milan. Adaptive Pathways to Climate Change: Livestock and Livelihoods Systems in Gandaki River Basin. COLORADO STATE UNIV(7/15/2012 - 9/30/2015).
Courses
2023 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 444 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
SOS 444 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
SOS 544 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
SOS 544 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
2023 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SOS 596 | Capstone: Scientific Paper |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
2022 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 321 | Policy & Gov in Sustain Systms |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 444 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
SOS 444 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
SOS 544 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
SOS 544 | Climate Change, Soc, Sustain |
2022 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
2022 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 493 | Honors Thesis |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SOS 596 | Capstone: Scientific Paper |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
2021 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 321 | Policy & Gov in Sustain Systms |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SOS 493 | Honors Thesis |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
2021 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SOS 596 | Capstone: Scientific Paper |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
2020 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 321 | Policy & Gov in Sustain Systms |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 493 | Honors Thesis |
2020 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 323 | Sustainable Urban Dynamics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
2020 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SOS 596 | Capstone: Scientific Paper |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
2019 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 321 | Policy & Gov in Sustain Systms |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
2019 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
2019 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 599 | Thesis |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 591 | Seminar |
SOS 596 | Capstone: Scientific Paper |
SOS 591 | Seminar |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 321 | Policy & Gov in Sustain Systms |
2018 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 790 | Reading and Conference |
SOS 321 | Policy & Gov in Sustain Systms |
SOS 320 | Society and Sustainability |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
2018 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 598 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
SOS 494 | Special Topics |
Selected Honors/Awards
- Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellowship, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NRC), Washington, DC (2008)
- Dissertation Completion Award. The Graduate School, University of Georgia (2006-2007)
- Earth System Sciences Fellowship of National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) (2004-2007)
- Robert McNamara Fellowship. The World Bank, Washington, DC (1999-2000)
- National Championship, the 22nd Ratna Shield Inter-College Quiz Contest, Godavari Alumni Association (GAA), Nepal (1990)
- Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) since 2002 - currently Sustaining Fellow
- American Anthropological Association (AAA) since 2003 Member,
- The Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS) since 2004 Member,
- American Association of Geographers (AAG) since 2014
- International Association for the Study of Commons (IASC) since 2005 Member,
- American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) since 2004 Member (occasional),
- International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) since 2013 (occasional)
Graduate Committee Chair
- Ian Thompson, M. A., School of Sustainability, ASU, (May 2019)
- Sonam F. Sherpa, M. S., Sustainability, ASU, (May 2018)
Graduate Committee Member
- Tashi W. Gurung, Ph.D., School of Human Evolution and Social Change, ASU 2017 - present
- Michelle Clark, Ph.D., School of Life Sciences, ASU, (August 2020)
- Phillip Moore, M. A., School of Sustainability, ASU, (May 2020)
- Anisa Villareal, MA, The New College, ASU, (December 2018)
- Daniel Culotta, M.S., School of Sustainability, ASU (May 2011)
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Committee
- Alyson Hulet (Director), May 2022
- Marshall Morgan (Director), May 2022
- Lucien Dieter (Reader), December 2021
- Alexandra Neumann (Director) May 2021
- Sukhmani Singh (Director), December 2020
- Vanessa Villalobos (Dierctor), August 2020
- Laura Quintero Cervantes (Director) - December 2015
- Katherine Phillips (Reader) - May 2016
- Alex Parma (Reader) - May 2013
Arizona State University
- Chair of the Search Committee, Lecturer in Sustainability & Enterprise (2022);
- Undergraduate Committee (2020 - present);
- SURE (Sustainability Undergraduate Research Experience) Committee, 2019 - 2021);
- Examiner, President’s Award for Sustainability Committee, 2014 - present;
- Search Committee, Lecturers and Instructors, 2019;
- Reviewer, CAP LTER Graduate Students Research Grants Proposal Review Committee, 2010-2011
Professional Services
- Executive Council Member, the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS), 2008-2012 and 2020 - present
- Member, Senior Fellowship Application Review Committee, ANHS, 2016
- Board Member, Culture & Agriculture (C&A) Section, American Anthropological Association, 2007-2009
Journal Manuscripts ReviewAmbio, Applied Geography (x3), Chinese Journal of Population and Environment, Climate Change & Development, Conservation & Society, Contemporary South Asia, Culture & Agriculture, Ecology & Society (x3), Ecological Processes, The International Journal of Commons (x3), The Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Land – Interdisciplinary Journal, PLoS One (x4), SAGE Open, The Science of the Total Environment (STOTEN), Science Advances, Urban Geography
Research Proposal and Grant Reviews National Geographic Society (NGS) Research and Exploration Grant Proposals Reviewer, proposals submitted to Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council of the UK Research and Innovation (http://www.ukri.org)
Book Manuscript Reviewer Wolters Kluwer (Aspen Publishers) 2017, Guilford Press 2015