Adam Gallaher

Energy surrounds us, it sits at the intersection of society and the environment. As a broadly trained geographer, the main goal of Adam’s research is to better understand the various human-environment interactions of energy systems so that we might chart a path towards decarbonizing the energy sector without placing unnecessary pressure on existing environmental systems. His current research aims to inform sustainable solar development by identifying key biodiversity and ecosystem-service based values across agriculture, water, forests, and the built environment in New York State. The goal is to holistically understand the various trade-offs required to accomplish both energy and conservation objectives.

Adam primarily leverages geographic information systems and geospatial models to answer a range of questions related to how humans interact with their energy systems and in turn how those systems interact with the surrounding environment. Prior to joining Cornell, his dissertation research investigated energy transitions across multiple technologies, such as, electric vehicle adoption, solar energy and ecosystem service trade-offs, and cross-country comparisons of offshore wind development in the North Atlantic. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and building LEGO.