Dr. Christine J. Kirchhoff

Turning Research Into Action

I use inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches and study how these approaches help drive change and support the production of actionable knowledge, and evidence informed decision making.

• In 2022, I helped the Global Council for Science and the Environment create a Science as Actionable Knowledge video series to be a resource for anyone looking to learn more about how to engage in transdisciplinary research and produce knowledge that is relevant, useful, and impactful for society.
• I am also part of a community of social scientists, engaged researchers, and practitioners who study the Science of Actionable Knowledge as well as the Transforming Evidence Network, and community of scholars, practitioners, funders, and leaders working to break down barriers and enable transdisciplinary research.

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Awards & Accomplishments

$17m+

in external research funding

173

citations across 140 policy documents

50+

peer-reviewed publications

4k+

citations in peer-reviewed publications

NSF CAREER Award Winner

Dr. Kirchhoff received the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award towards her work humanizing engineering and resilience. The NSF CAREER award is one for the most prestigious research grants for junior faculty in the U.S.

Her work is aimed at discovering a new theory and methods for assessing human dimensions of resilience while providing practitioners practical guidance for measuring and improving infrastructure resilience. As stated in a UCONN Today article, Dr. Kirchhoff explores, “why infrastructure managers overwhelmingly focus on building resilience to the past, bouncing back from disruption, rather than bouncing forward or building resilience to future hazards and surprises."

Read the article

Other Honors & Awards

• School of Engineering Castleman Professorship in Engineering Innovation, University of Connecticut, 2020.

• Best Dissertation Award, the Universities Council on Water Resources, 2011.

Contributions

Writing & Consultation

Membership

• Associate Editor for Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society and Climate Risk Management

• Contributing Author to the IPCC AR6 Chapter 6 Cities, Settlements, and Key Infrastructure

• Co-Lead Author of Chapter 8 of the North American Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment

• Lead Author of the Northeast Chapter of the 6th US National Climate Assessment

• Expertise sought by journalists for stories published in USA Today, Washington Post, National Geographic, National Public Radio, NBC News Connecticut, among others.

• Member, Chesapeake Bay Science and Technical Advisory Committee

• Member, National Academies Committee for Public Infrastructure for Effective Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Workshop

Featured in the Media

All Media

October 27, 2023

Podcast: How are Wastewater Systems Adapting to Climate Change?

October 04, 2023

Recorded Webinar: How to Connect, Get Noticed, and Get Funded

October 01, 2023

Listen to Growing Impact: Solar-powered water treatment

September 01, 2023

Science as Actionable Knowledge Video Series [GCSE]