He received his Ph.D. in geography from Clark University in 1988, where his research focused on occupational hazards and the social issues of risk assessment and risk management, especially with regard to nuclear power. His current research interests include the history and development of risk research, environmental equity, risk communication, and social trust. He is the author of “The Differential Susceptibility of Workers to Occupational Hazards: A Comparison of Policies in Sweden, Britain, and the United States,” co-author of “Managing Nuclear Accidents: A Model Emergency Response Plan for Power Plants and Communities,” and co-editor of “Social Theories of Risk,” “Worst Things First: The Debate over Risk-Based National Environmental Policies,” and “Preparing for Nuclear Power Plant Accidents.”