 What is your current job and what does it entail?
I am the John E. Andrus Professor of Economics and Director of the John E. Andrus Public Affairs Center at Wesleyan University (www.wesleyan.edu) in Middletown, Conn. The "director" part of my job consists of overseeing the University's persuit of external funding from public sources (particularly by faculty) and coordinating efforts for corporate and foundation support with my counterpart in the development office. The "professor" part of my job entails teaching and research. I investigate the causes and consequences of global environmental change (this includes the driving forces of global warming and the potential economic damage of the resulting sea level rise). My work as a professor also includes traveling to meetings of various national and international research organizations, sitting on a variety of advisory panels, and seeking funding for my research.
What was the key factor in your career decision?
I chose to enter academics because I thought that I would enjoy a teaching career. I did not understand what research was all about when I made that decision, but quickly learned that it was part of the deal. I gave it a try and found that I liked doing research -- probably more than teaching (although I very much enjoy teaching) -- and I have had some measure of success since then.
What do like most about your career?
I like the challenge, of course. But I like the freedom to set my own agenda and plan my own time the best. It allows me the opportunity to spend more time with my family and children. It also allows me the opportunity to travel to places I would not otherwise and to enjoy a collection of relatively close friends who live in places scattered over five continents.
What do you like least about your career?
This is easy: traveling to one more conference on climate change. The climate change community has, however, started to recognize the diminishing returns of conferences but increasing returns of workshops, where small gatherings of researchers actually collaborate while they are together.
What do you do to relax?
Work in the yard and garden. Play golf. Travel with my family and, sometimes, with just my wife.
Who are your heroes/heroines?
My heroes are people who achieve more than a high degree of proficiency at what they do. They bring something intangible to their work that sets them apart. There are a lot of people who hit golf balls as well as Jack Nicklaus, but nobody has ever won more major tournaments. There are many very competent economists, but few can claim to rival Jim Tobin in insight, intuition, and ability to bring the best out of colleagues. Dennis Connor. Robert Kennedy. People like that.
What advice would you give a high school student who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in your field?
Learn how natural and socioeconomic systems interact and work alongside one another. Increasingly, employers will be looking for people who can make the connections across many disciplines and subjects even as they become expert in one specialty. The downside risk is that most universities and funding agencies are still divided along disciplinary lines, so you need to develop particular skills that one discipline will recognize to advance to the "post tenure" stage.
Are career opportunities in your field increasing or decreasing and why?
For well-rounded and educated scientists, career opportunities will explode in the coming years. Economists who can work on the interface of the social and natural science disciplines will be in increasingly high demand. Marine scientists who can communicate with economists, sociologists, policy makers, educators, and others will be in equally high demand. On the other hand, opportunities in very narrow specialties may well decline.
There should also be an enormous demand for science writers who can explain the most advanced concepts of natural and social science in terms that people can appreciate.
What will you be doing 10 years from today?
I don't really know. The beauty of an academic career is that an academic can evolve as a scholar. He or she can choose what to do and what not to do. It is possible to change directions and focus, almost on a dime. I am sure, however, that my interests will not stray too far from environmental and resource economics. I expect to be participating in an increasingly international effort to develop appropriate response strategies for dealing with global warming and adapting to its consequences. We have learned a good deal on both fronts over the past several years, but the issues will not go away any time soon.
Salary:$125,000 - $150,000
Email:gyohe@wesleyan.edu
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