Robert Melchior Figueroa (BA-Rutgers 1989, MA-University of Colorado-Boulder 1995, PhD-University of Colorado-Boulder 1999) is an Associate Professor of Philosophy in the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion (SHPR) at Oregon State University. He also came to OSU as the inaugural Engaged Scholar Residence in the Center for Latin@ Studies and Engagement (CL@SE) at OSU. He is now Associate Direct of Philosophy for SHPR at OSU Elsewhere, he is the Director of the Environmental Justice Project, a part of the Center for Environmental Philosophy, which maintains a non-profit classification. And, he is part of several collaborate research projects.
He specializes his research in Environmental Justice Studies and Environmental Philosophy, as well as the Philosophy of Science, Technology, and Society. Inclusive of his research is work on Philosophy of Heritage, Environmental Identity, Climate Refugees, Critical Race and Latin@ Theory, Critical Geography, Feminist Philosophy, and Philosophy for Children.
Over the past decade, Rob has edited the special issue of the Journal of Environmental Philosophy on Ecotourism and Environmental Justice (fall 2010). He has published widely on environmental justice studies working to extend both the applications of environmental justice in multiple disciplines and to rethink justice theory through grassroots experiences. One example of this has involved cultural geographer Gordon Waitt from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Rob and Gordon have been studying ecotourism and environmental justice at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia since 2005. Their Uluru Project has produced several publications combining philosophy and geography in an affective, qualitative methodology that has shaped thought in tourism studies, environmental justice, critical geography, and restorative justice for indigenous peoples.
Rob is also a vital member of the Mesa Verde Project, a transdisciplinary team of researchers crossing boundaries of film, philosophy, archaeology, eco-poetry, Pueblo Indian Studies, digital media, cultural studies, and self-reflexive transdisciplinary experience. Sushi in Cortez: Interdisciplinary Essays from Mesa Verde edited by MVP members Steve Wolverton and David Taylor (University of Utah Press, 2015) . <-- This is a tremendous link to catch a glimpse of Steve Bardolph's photography and Melinda Levin's filmwork on this project.
Rob's areas of teaching and research have maintained a transdisciplinary (across disciplines and beyond academia) perspective since 1995 when he launched one of the first courses in the nation titled "Environmental Justice" and has continued to be a leader in environmental justice pedagogy. He has taught environmental justice in undergraduate and graduate in academic programs across the curricula of philosophy, environmental studies/science, Africana and Latin American studies, peace and conflict studies, women's studies, and liberal arts core curricula. His teaching outside of environmental justice is extensive in both the philosophy curriculum and these numerous interdisciplinary programs.
His most recent endeavors include research on environmental justice and refugee communities, as well as the environmental justice of climate refugees. He is also working on disability studies with environmental justice, specifically autism and environmental identity. And, he continues his career work on redefining the boundaries of environmental justice, identity, and heritage. Rob is currently writing a book for Routledge, Environmental Justice as Environmental Ethics: A New Introduction, and his manuscript Extending Environmental Justice: Beyond Equity and Identity. For an extensive list of his academic work and works in progress, see his curriculum vitae.
He specializes his research in Environmental Justice Studies and Environmental Philosophy, as well as the Philosophy of Science, Technology, and Society. Inclusive of his research is work on Philosophy of Heritage, Environmental Identity, Climate Refugees, Critical Race and Latin@ Theory, Critical Geography, Feminist Philosophy, and Philosophy for Children.
Over the past decade, Rob has edited the special issue of the Journal of Environmental Philosophy on Ecotourism and Environmental Justice (fall 2010). He has published widely on environmental justice studies working to extend both the applications of environmental justice in multiple disciplines and to rethink justice theory through grassroots experiences. One example of this has involved cultural geographer Gordon Waitt from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Rob and Gordon have been studying ecotourism and environmental justice at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia since 2005. Their Uluru Project has produced several publications combining philosophy and geography in an affective, qualitative methodology that has shaped thought in tourism studies, environmental justice, critical geography, and restorative justice for indigenous peoples.
Rob is also a vital member of the Mesa Verde Project, a transdisciplinary team of researchers crossing boundaries of film, philosophy, archaeology, eco-poetry, Pueblo Indian Studies, digital media, cultural studies, and self-reflexive transdisciplinary experience. Sushi in Cortez: Interdisciplinary Essays from Mesa Verde edited by MVP members Steve Wolverton and David Taylor (University of Utah Press, 2015) . <-- This is a tremendous link to catch a glimpse of Steve Bardolph's photography and Melinda Levin's filmwork on this project.
Rob's areas of teaching and research have maintained a transdisciplinary (across disciplines and beyond academia) perspective since 1995 when he launched one of the first courses in the nation titled "Environmental Justice" and has continued to be a leader in environmental justice pedagogy. He has taught environmental justice in undergraduate and graduate in academic programs across the curricula of philosophy, environmental studies/science, Africana and Latin American studies, peace and conflict studies, women's studies, and liberal arts core curricula. His teaching outside of environmental justice is extensive in both the philosophy curriculum and these numerous interdisciplinary programs.
His most recent endeavors include research on environmental justice and refugee communities, as well as the environmental justice of climate refugees. He is also working on disability studies with environmental justice, specifically autism and environmental identity. And, he continues his career work on redefining the boundaries of environmental justice, identity, and heritage. Rob is currently writing a book for Routledge, Environmental Justice as Environmental Ethics: A New Introduction, and his manuscript Extending Environmental Justice: Beyond Equity and Identity. For an extensive list of his academic work and works in progress, see his curriculum vitae.