Todd Harwell
Research Scholar
Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group
Advancing Systems Analysis Program
Contact
Biography
Todd Harwell (he/him) is a research scholar in the Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group of the Advancing Systems Analysis Program at IIASA. His work explores how individuals and communities interact with and contribute to scientific monitoring and research processes involving the natural world around them through engagement with participatory sciences (including citizen science and community science) projects, programs, and initiatives.His current project portfolio includes research and project management activities with Urban ReLeaf, a collaborative mission-oriented innovation project with six European cities to design citizen-powered data ecosystems and nature-based solutions to drive inclusive and green urban transitions. Harwell also works on CROPS, a project that aims at upscaling the next generation of citizen science activities to fully realize their potential at a transnational level, with shared objectives targeted towards EU Mission goals.
Some of his previous work includes examining the roles and impacts of community and citizen science in the implementation of marine protected area (MPA) systems across the coastlines of California and Oregon in the western United States. He has also explored how STEM engagement opportunities like participation with community and citizen science programs contribute to the science identity development and community cultivation of participants with a focus on the experiences of LGBTQ2SIA+ participants.
Harwell earned his PhD in environmental sciences from Oregon State University and has previously been employed as a postdoctoral scholar at the Center for Community and Citizen Science at the University of California, Davis and as an Assistant Teaching Professor of Natural Sciences at Honors College of Portland State University. Prior to joining IIASA, he held a role as a Life Scientist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Some of his current and recent professional activities include serving as the co-chair of the Community and Citizen Science Track of the Science and Society section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in addition to serving as the secretary/treasurer of the Participatory and Citizen Science (PaCS) Working Group Board of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB). Harwell has also served as a Community Science Fellow with AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange and been involved with working groups and committees of the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS).
Last update: 11 NOV 2024
Publications
Hager, G. , Harwell, T. , & Moorthy, I. (2026). From tension to collaboration: cross-sector learning in inclusive, urban citizen science. In: European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) 2026, 3-6 March 2026, Oulu, Finland.
Moorthy, I. , Harwell, T. , Hager, G. , Hofer, M., Tsilimanis, G., Grivas, G., & Tsertou, A. (2026). Tech-enabled citizen science for urban futures: Lessons from Urban ReLeaf. In: European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) 2026, 3-6 March 2026, Oulu, Finland.
Harwell, T. , Hager, G. , Moorthy, I. , Christantoni, I., Coelho, B., Dörre, J., Gagane, N., Hartley-Zels, J., Hunia, A., Skudra, S., Tsakanika, D., & van Leeuwen, E. (2026). Urban ReLeaf: People-powered pathways to urban climate adaptation across Europe. In: European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) 2026, 3-6 March 2026, Oulu, Finland.
Kimourtzi, M., Grivas, G., Chatzidiakos, C., Gāgane, N., Skudra, S., Zučika, A., Hager, G. , Harwell, T. , Moorthy, I. , & Gerasopoulos, E. (2025). Assessing the impact of urban greenspaces on PM2.5 spatiotemporal
variability in Riga, Latvia, via citizen science and low-cost sensors. In: European Aerosol Conference, 31 Aug-5 Sept 2025, Lecce, Italy.
Hager, G. , Moorthy, I. , Harwell, T. , Brozek, S., Christantoni, I., Coelho, B., Grivas, G., Hunia, A., Karagiannopoulou, K., Lampkowski, M., Marx, V., Pins, G., Skuda, S., Tsertou, A., van Leeuwen, E., Veeckman, C., & Woods, M. (2025). From Data to Action: Empowering local communities and public authorities to shape smart, sustainable cities together. In: EURA 2025: Creating healthy and sustainable cities, 10-13 June 2025, Bristol, UK.