Dana R. Fisher
Director, Program for Society and the Environment and Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland
Areas of Expertise:
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About Dana
Fisher focuses on understanding the relationship between environmentalism and democracy - most recently by studying American climate politics, social protest, activism, and environmental stewardship. She is currently focusing much of her attention on how climate and energy policy networks evolve around the 2016 election. She is also tracking the collective action that has erupted in the U.S. in response to the election of Donald Trump. Fisher has collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service and a variety of local environmental stewardship groups in cities in the Northeast since 2007 as part of her work on urban stewardship.
Contributions
Community Environmental Projects as a Gateway to Greater Citizen Participation
Key Findings Brief,
No Jargon Podcast
In the News
"Door-Knocking in a Life-or-Death Campaign," Dana R. Fisher (with ), The American Prospect, October 1, 2020.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on about 25% of those polled were 24 or younger and white protesters made up about 54% of the crowds. by Melissa Chan, "These Black Lives Matter Protesters Had No Idea How One Arrest Could Alter Their Lives" Time, August 19, 2020.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on environmental activism trends by Sarah Kaplan, "Teen Girls are Leading the Climate Strikes and Helping Change the Face of Environmentalism" The Washington Post, September 24, 2019.
"The Youth Climate Summit Starts July 12. It’s Full of Young Activists Trained in the Anti-Trump Movement," Dana R. Fisher, The Washington Post, July 12, 2019.
"The Youth Climate Summit starts July 12. It’s full of young activists trained in the anti-Trump movement.," Dana R. Fisher, Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, July 12, 2019.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on wealthy Democratic primary candidates by Sasha Pezenik, "2020 Candidates Who are among the 1% Face Challenges in Championing the 99%" ABC News, July 11, 2019.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on 2020 election by Sasha Pezenik, "2020 candidates who are among the 1% face challenges in championing the 99%" ABC News, July 11, 2019.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on youth movement against climate change by Elizabeth Weise, "Climate Change the New Vietnam War? Generation Z Poised to Change US Politics with Activism" USA Today, May 6, 2019.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on youth activism by Elizabeth Weise, "Climate change the new Vietnam War? Generation Z poised to change US politics with activism" USA Today, May 6, 2019.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on the Women's March by Marissa J. Lang, "The Women’s March drew more moderates in its third year. It’s all Trump, researchers say." The Washington Post, January 26, 2019.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on demographics of Women's March participants by Marissa J. Lang, "The Women's March Drew More Moderates in Its Third Year. It's All Trump, Researchers Say" The Washington Post, January 26, 2019.
"This Year’s Women’s Marchers weren’t Focused on the Leadership Controversy. They were All about Local and National Political Organizing," Dana R. Fisher, The Washington Post, January 22, 2019.
"This year’s Women’s Marchers weren’t focused on the leadership controversy. They were all about local and national political organizing.," Dana R. Fisher, Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, January 22, 2019.
Guest to discuss women's leading role in protest marches on CNN New Day, Dana R. Fisher, January 19, 2019.
Guest to discuss confrontational politics on CNN News Day Saturday, Dana R. Fisher, January 19, 2019.
"Here’s why the protests against Kavanaugh (and the Trump administration) won’t go away," Dana R. Fisher, Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, October 6, 2018.
"Here’s Why the Protests against Kavanaugh (and the Trump administration) won’t Go Away," Dana R. Fisher, The Washington Post, October 6, 2018.
"Will Scientists Gear Up for Activism in the Age of Trump?," Dana R. Fisher (with ), The American Prospect, July 12, 2018.
"Will Scientists Gear Up for Activism in the Age of Trump?," Dana R. Fisher (with ), The American Prospect, July 12, 2018.
"Who Came Out in the Brutal Heat to the ‘Families Belong Together’ March? Here’s Our Data," Dana R. Fisher, The Washington Post, July 3, 2018.
"Who came out in the brutal heat to the ‘Families Belong Together’ march? Here’s our data.," Dana R. Fisher, Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, July 3, 2018.
Dana R. Fisher quoted by Nicole Winfield and Seth Borenstein, "Pope Summons Oil Execs to Vatican to Talk Climate Change" Associated Press, June 1, 2018.
Dana R. Fisher quoted by Adam Gabbatt, "Vietnam to Parkland: How America's Protesters are Getting Younger" The Guardian, April 15, 2018.
"Here’s Who Actually Attended March for Our Lives. (No, It wasn’t Mostly Young People)," Dana R. Fisher, The Washington Post, March 28, 2018.
"Here’s who actually attended the March for Our Lives. (No, it wasn’t mostly young people.)," Dana R. Fisher, Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, March 28, 2018.
Guest to discuss demographics of March for Our Lives participants on Morning Joe, Dana R. Fisher, March 26, 2018.
Guest to discuss data on 'Resistance' movement to Trump administration on Morning Joe, Dana R. Fisher, January 22, 2018.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on resisting the Senate health care bill by Charlotte Alter, "Parents of Sick Kids are a Powerful Weapon against the Senate Health Bill" Time, June 28, 2017.
"Scientists Actually Did Some Science at the March for Science," Dana R. Fisher, Wired, April 24, 2017.
Guest to discuss political activism on National Public Radio, Dana R. Fisher (with ), March 3, 2017.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on activism by Brian Resnick, "4 Rules for Making a Protest Work, According to Experts" Vox, January 28, 2017.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on activism by Nancy Benac, "DC Women's March Drew Many First-Time Protesters" Associated Press, January 26, 2017.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on climate change policy under a Trump administration by Karl Ritter and Seth Borenstein, "Trump Win Raises Questions about U.S. Pledge in Climate Deal" Associated Press, November 9, 2016.
"Waking Up in Trump’s America and Watching the Ocean Rise," Dana R. Fisher, Huffington Post, November 9, 2016.
"American Leadership and the Silent Energy Revolution," Dana R. Fisher, Huffington Post, November 7, 2016.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on the goal of keeping warming to 1.5 degrees, "Climate Proposal’s Goals on Target, Action Lacking, Scientists Say" Dallas Morning News, December 11, 2015.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on Gore's role in climate change activism by Seth Borenstein, "A Twist for Paris Climate Talks: Al Gore the Optimist" Associated Press, The Washington Post, and Boston Globe, November 11, 2015.
Dana R. Fisher quoted on climate change inactivity, "Poll: Most Americans Understand, Aren’t Too Worried about Climate Change" CBS News, November 4, 2015.
Dana R. Fisher's research on public opinion on climate changes discussed by , "40 Percent in U.S. Believe Climate Change is Real, are Unworried," Christian Science Monitor, November 4, 2015.
Dana R. Fisher's research on climate change and public opinion discussed by , "As Scientists Worry about Warming World, U.S. Public Doesn't," The Associated Press, November 3, 2015.
Dana R. Fisher's research on climate change as a voting issue discussed by "Americans Don’t Worry Much about Climate Change, Poll Says," The Washington Post, November 3, 2015.
"The Tangible Effects of Connecting with Your Neighbors," Dana R. Fisher, Stanford University Press Blog, May 2015.
"An Easy Solution To America’s Democracy Problem," Dana R. Fisher, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, March 26, 2015.
"How Do Civic Gateways Work for Everyone?," Dana R. Fisher, James L. Knight Foundation Blog, March 13, 2015.
"Political Action," Dana R. Fisher, a short film on Fisher and her coverage of the People's Climate March, FiveThirtyEight/ESPN Films, January 14, 2015.
Publications
"An Empirical Examination of Echo Chambers in U.S. Climate Policy Networks" (with ). Nature Climate Change (2015).
Explains why climate denialism continues to thwart political action on climate change at the federal level. Presents data from the top policy actors involved in U.S. climate politics and the ways that scientific information diffuses through their policy networks to show that information is being amplified and distorted through echo chambers.
Urban Environmental Stewardship and Civic Engagement: How Planting Trees Strengthens the Roots of Democracy (with ) (Routledge Press, 2015).
Assesses the connection between urban environmental stewardship and civic engagement by studying volunteers working on the MillionTrees initiative in New York City. Argues that environmental stewardship is a gateway to numerous other forms of civic engagement.
"Youth Political Participation: Bridging Activism and Electoral Politics" Annual Review of Sociology 38 (2012): 119-137.
Provides an overview of the state of knowledge on youth political participation in America, arguing that we must integrate perspectives on activism and electoral politics to understand the process more effectively.
Activism, Inc. (Stanford University Press, 2006).
Explores the outsourcing of grassroots campaigns on the Left in America by presenting extensive in depth data on the largest canvassing organization in the country.
"How Do Organizations Matter? Mobilization and Support for Participants at Five Globalization Protests" (with ). Social Problems 52, no. 1 (2005): 102-121.
Looks at the ways that protesters mobilize to participate in social protest. It finds that “global protests” are mostly populated by local people who are mobilized through local organizations.
National Governance and the Global Climate Change Regime (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2004).
Compares domestic responses to international climate policy-making and the Kyoto Protocol in the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands.