Michael R. Greenberg, Ph.D.


Distinguished Professor, Emeritus and former Interim Dean
Director Emeritus, National Center for Neighborhood and Brownfields Redevelopment, Center for Transportation Safety, Security and Risk, and Environmental Analysis and Communications Group
B.A., Hunter College; M.A. and Ph.D., Columbia (Geography)
Contact
  • mrg [at] rutgers.edu
Research Interests
  • Risk analysis
  • Environmental health
  • Nuclear waste management
  • Senior citizen environmental risks


Michael Greenberg is Distinguished Professor, Emeritus at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University. He studies environmental health and risk analysis and has written more than 30 books and more than 300 articles. His most recent books are:

  • Protecting Seniors Against Environmental Disasters: From Hazards and Vulnerability to Prevention and Resilience (Earthscan 2014)
  • Explaining Risk Analysis: Protecting Health and Safety (Earthscan 2016).
  • Urban Planning and Public Health, with Dona Schneider (APHA 2017)
  • Siting Noxious Facilities (Routledge/Earthscan, 2018)

Professor Greenberg has been a member of National Research Council Committees that focus on the destruction of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile and nuclear weapons; chemical waste management; and the degradation of the U.S. government physical infrastructure, sustainability and the U.S. EPA, and served on the EPA Science Advisory Board environmental justice committee. He recently chaired a committee for the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees examining the U.S. DOE’s prioritization of human health and safety in its environmental management programs. Professor Greenberg served as area editor for social sciences and then editor-in-chief of Risk Analysis: An International Journal during the period 2002-2013, and continues as associate editor for environmental health for the American Journal of Public Health.

Complete Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)

View all course offerings and related syllabi
Undergraduate Courses
  • Introduction to Planning, Public Policy, and Health
Graduate Courses
  • Environmental Planning and Management
  • Graduate Planning Studio
  • Transportation Risk & Security

Recent Publications

Books

  • 2020: Greenberg, J. Burger, and K. Lowrie, eds. Nuclear Power, Weapons and Waste Management: A 40-year Retrospective, Risk Analysis virtual issue, June 2020. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1002/(ISSN)1539-6924.nuclear-power-weapons-and-waste-management. (account may be required for viewing) May 20, 2020.
  • 2020: Dynes R., chair, Heimberg J., senior program staff member, and committee members Bendixen L, Bronzini M, Greenberg M, Johnson D, Kersting A, Maloney MD, Orrell SA, Ostendorff W, Ottmer T, Parks C, Silva M. Review of the Department of Energy’s Plans to Dispose of Surplus Plutonium in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Pre-Publication copy. Washington, DC, June 2020.
  • 2019: M. Greenberg, and D. Schneider. Environmental Health and the U.S. Federal System: Sustainably Managing Health Hazards. NY, Earthscan/Routledge, August 2019
  • 2018: M. Greenberg. Siting Noxious Facilities: Integrating Location Economics and Risk Analysis to Protect Environmental Health and Investments, NY, Earthscan/Routledge, 2018
  • 2017: M. Greenberg, Explaining Risk Analysis: Protecting Health and the Environment. Earthscan/Routledge.

Chapters in Books or Monographs

  • 2017: 758.M. Greenberg, H. Mayer, C. Powers, and D. Kosson. Nuclear Waste Management and Nuclear Power: A Tale of Two Essential United States Department of Energy Sites in Idaho and New Mexico, in Nuclear Portraits, L. MacDowell, Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2017, 217-237.
  • 2017: 763. M. Greenberg, M. Coon, M. Campo, and J. Whytlaw. Finding Locations for Endurably Objectionable Energy-Related Facilities: The CLAMP Policy, submitted for book in Energy Geographies, Ashgate Publishers, forthcoming, August 2017.

Articles in Refereed Journals

  • 2020: Michael Greenberg, Anthony Cox, Vicki Bier, Jim Lambert, Karen Lowrie, Warner North, Michael Siegrist, and Felicia Wu. Risk Analysis: Celebrating the Accomplishments and Embracing Ongoing Challenges. Risk Analysis. Early view, June 24, 2020. Article DOI: 10.1111/risa.13487.
  • 2020: Greenberg, T. Burke, B. Goldstein, R. Jackson, and J. Samet. Endangering the Health of All: Destroying a Half Century of Health Leadership Along with America’s Environment. AJPH, 110, 2, e1-e2, 2020.
  • 2019: 790. Ortwin Renn, Risk governance maven. Risk Analysis, An International Journal 39(7), 1435-1440, 2019.
  • 2019: Greenberg M, Lowrie K. Risk Analysis Biographical Profiles, 2008-2018. Risk Analysis, An International Journal. November 2018.
  • 2019: 775. M. Greenberg, G. Apostolakis, T. Fields, B. Goldstein, D. Kosson, R.B. Matthews, S. Krahn, J. Rispoli, J. Stewart, R. Stewart. Advancing Risk-Informed Decision-Making in Managing Defense Nuclear Waste in the United States: Opportunities and Challenges for Risk Analysis. Risk Analysis. 39, 32, 375-388, 2019
  • 2019: Greenberg, M. & Lowrie, K., Apr 1 2019. Vicki Bier: A More Sensible Way to View Risk, In : Risk Analysis. 39, 4, p. 744-748 5 p.
  • 2018: Weiner, M.D. and Greenberg, M.R. (2018). The Hudson Tunnel Project: Exploring Public Opinion Support for Public Funding Mechanisms for Critical Infrastructure. Case Studies on Transport Policy. Vol. 6, pp. 265-278. (2F2F10.10167C017C159cca29bba24b4345dd08d61815fde87C17C636722880053262036&sdata=NCF90eh55djqL62hw3Tvw6Jztg18U6kHDWWlDKKBboA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="Verified">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2018.04.005).
  • 2018: 767. D. Schneider, M. Greenberg. Urban Planning and Public Health: Synergies for Achieving a Healthy Delaware. Delaware Journal of Public Health. 4,2, 56-63, March 2018.

Other Publications

  • 2020: Greenberg and K. Lowrie. Roger Kasperson: In Pursuit of Solutions to Risk Conundrums. Risk Analysis. 40 (6), 1113-1116, 2020.
  • 2019: 793. Whytlaw J, Herb J, Greenberg M. Intersection of race, income and environmental factors in New Jersey: a screening analysis. New Brunswick New Jersey, Environmental Analysis and Communications Group, August 2019.
  • 2019: 792. K.G. Brown, T. Fields, M.R. Greenberg, K. Higley, D.S. Kosson, and S.L. Krahn, CRESP Comments on: NRC, 2019. Disposal of Greater-than-Class C (GTCC) and Transuranic Waste – Draft Regulatory Basis – For Public Comment, RIN number 3150-AK00; NRC Docket ID: NRC-2017-0081, August 21, 2018.
  • 2019: 791. M. Greenberg, Disposal of greater-than-class C (GTCC) and transuranic waste, draft regulatory basis – for public comment. Report to CRESP and the U.S. NRC, August 6, 2019.
  • 2019: 787 M. Greenberg, editor, John F. Ahearne. Reflections and papers written or influenced by a distinguished risk analyst. Risk Analysis, An International Journal. John Wiley Press and the Society for Risk Analysis, special virtual issue, June 2019.
  • 2019: 785. Vicki Bier, A More Sensible Way to View Risk. Risk Analysis, An International Journal 39(4), 744-748, 2019.
    2019: 783. Greenberg M, Stewart J, Fields T. Comments for GAO – “Statement of Facts” Focusing on the section called “Challenges and Benefits of a Framework for Risk-Informed Decision-Making”March 24, 2019, Addendum April 12, 2019.
  • 2019: 782. Greenberg M. to Dynes R. chair, Application of NEPA and Risk and Opportunity Analysis tools to Dilute and Dispose Option for Managing Surplus Plutonium, report to Committee on Disposal of Surplus Plutonium at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board, Division of Life Sciences. February 4, 2019.
  • 2018: 772. David S. Kosson Jennifer A. Salisbury, Craig H. Benson, Lisa S. Bliss, Joanna Burger, James H. Clarke, Michael Gochfeld, Michael Greenberg, Henry J. Mayer, Jane B. Stewart, and Richard B. Stewart. Integrating DOE Land Use Designations and Remedy Decisions to Achieve Risk-Informed, Cost-Effective Cleanups: Case Studies at Hanford, Oak Ridge, Savannah River, and ETEC. Report to U.S. DOE, EM, March 2018.
  • 2018: 769. M. Greenberg, Use of Performance Assessment in Dilute and Dispose at WIPP. Report to Plutonium Disposition Committee, New Brunswick, NJ, April 9, 2018.
  • 2016: 754. M. Greenberg. Delivering Fresh Water: Critical Infrastructure, Environmental Justice, and Flint, Michigan. American Journal of Public Health. 106(8), 1358-1360, August, 2016
  • 2016: 751. M. Greenberg, K. Lowrie. Profile: Elizabeth Anderson: Cancer Risk Assessment Pioneer. Risk Analysis, An International Journal. 36(4), 646-649, 2016.
  • 2016: 755. M. Greenberg, Chair, Omnibus Risk Review Committee, Epilogue: A Review of the Use of Risk-Informed Management in the Cleanup Program for Former Defense Nuclear Sites. Report prepared from U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Washington, D.C., May 31, 2016. http://www.cresp.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Omnibus_Risk_Review_Epilogue_Final_6-15-16.pdf
  • 2016: 752. M. Greenberg, Local and Regional Context and Perspectives on the Tri-Cities Regional Economy, New Brunswick, NJ: Report for CRESP, June 2016.
  • 2016: 753. M. Greenberg, M. Weiner. Public Support for Repairing the Damaged Hudson River Tunnels, report submitted to Rutgers University, Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation, under Grant no. DTRT13-

Areas of Expertise: Aging and Public Health, Climate Impacts and Resilience, Computer Simulation Modeling, Energy,Environmental Planning and Policy, Public Health, Regional Development, Statistical Research Methods, Survey Research, Transportation