Michael Ferguson
For the greater part of a decade I have designed, managed, and analyzed natural resource research in national parks, national forests, and state and private recreational areas. I apply both quantitative and qualitative social science research methods to address issues such as global climate change, energy development, social carrying capacity, visitor use monitoring, and environmental degradation within a public lands and outdoor recreation context. I provide natural resource managers and practitioners with empirical and defensible data-driven solutions to inform decision-making and policy. Research collaborators include the USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Sea Grant, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and other various federal, state, and local agencies.
A primary component of my career involves educating and mentoring undergraduate and graduate level university students. I have experience teaching recreation courses such as recreation resource management, program and event marketing, facility design and management, natural resource management and policy, research methods, and sustainable tourism. My teaching style includes experiential and group-based learning techniques which emphasize the development of problem-solving skills that can be applied directly to real-world situations. Throughout all of my courses I include elements of my own research to provide students with real-world decisions and resulting trade-offs to better prepare them as they emerge as recreation professionals.
Research Interests
- Climate Change
- Economic Development
- Energy Economics
- Forest Economics
- Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas
- Great Lakes Studies
- Marine and Ocean Sciences
- Marine Resources Conservation
- Mineral Resources
- Mining & Extraction - Energy Resources
- Natural Resources
- Natural Resources Management
- Ocean and Ocean Energy Systems
- Parks & Recreation Management
- Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Renewable Resources
- Social & Economic Environment
- Social Science Education
- Solar Energy
- Tourism
- Wind Energy, General
Courses Taught
- RMP 515: Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am
- RMP 559: Program and Event Marketing
- RMP 670: Mgt & Design Recreation & Park
- RMP 711/811: Recreation Resource Management
- RMP 770: Mgt & Design Recreation & Park
- RMP 770/870: Mgt & Design Recreation & Park
- RMP 806: Rec Admin & Organization Behav
- RMP 970: Teaching Practicum
- RMP 980: Independent Study
Selected Publications
Ferguson, M. D., Lynch, M. L., Miller, Z. D., Ferguson, L. A., & Newman, P. (2020). What do outdoor recreationists think of fracking? Politics, ideology, and perceptions of shale gas energy development in Pennsylvania State Forests. Energy Research & Social Science, 62, 101384. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2019.101384
Miller, Z. D., Ferguson, L. A., Newman, P., Ferguson, M., Tipton, N., Sparrow, V., & Taff, B. D. (2020). Developing visitor thresholds of sound from shale natural gas compressors for motorized and non-motorized recreation users in Pennsylvania State Forests. Applied Acoustics, 157, 107012. doi:10.1016/j.apacoust.2019.107012
Ferguson, M. D., Lynch, M. L., Powers, S. L., Barrett, A. B., Evensen, D., Graefe, A. R., & Mowen, A. J. (2019). The Impacts of Shale Natural Gas Energy Development on Outdoor Recreation: A Statewide Assessment of Pennsylvanians. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 27(1), 1-10. doi:10.1016/j.jort.2019.100230
Kim, J. H., Ferguson, M. D., Hickerson, B. D., & Mowen, A. J. (2019). The Association of Constraints, Negotiations, and Social Influences with Recreation Specialization among Recreational Baseball Participants. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 37(1), 40-58. doi:10.18666/JPRA-2019-8794
Ferguson, M. D., Powers, S. L., Trauntvein, N., Jacquet, J. B., Graefe, A. R., & Mowen, A. J. (2019). Winds of change – Predicting water-based recreationists' support and opposition for offshore wind energy development in the Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 45(1), 187-195. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2018.10.006
Ferguson, M. D., Burns, R. C., & Smaldone, D. (2018). Innovations in Outdoor Recreation Visitor Use Management: Applying Market Segmentation at the Timberline Lodge Recreation Complex. International Leisure Review, 7(1), 108-131. doi:10.6298/ILR.201806_7(01).0006
Ferguson, M. D., Mueller, J. T., Graefe, A. R., & Mowen, A. J. (2018). Coping with Climate Change: A Study of Great Lakes Water-Based Recreationists. The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 36(2), 52-74. doi:10.18666/jpra-2018-v36-i2-8296
Most Cited Publications