Population ecology article recognized for impact

In 2008, Associate Professor Stephen Levine of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering published an article in The Journal of Industrial Ecology. Fourteen years later, and now an associate professor emeritus, his article was selected as one of the top 25 articles published over the journal’s 25-year history. His paper, “Products and Ecological Models: A Population Ecology Perspective,” was included in a virtual special issue to celebrate the journal’s 25^th anniversary in 2022.

Levine’s paper was originally published in volume three of the journal and investigated the population ecology model as a complement to the systems ecology approach in the context of industrial systems. The work has been cited 29 times across various publications including Sustainability and Environmental Science & Technology.

Levine joined Tufts in 2004, focusing his research on the applications of mathematical and computer models to environmental, ecological, economic, and engineering systems. In particular, he analyzed the flows of resources and products in industrial systems using economic input-output models and evaluated alternative policies for controlling feral cat populations with computer simulation.

The Journal of Industrial Ecology is the professional journal for the International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE) and was founded by the Center for Industrial Ecology in the Yale School of the Environment at Yale University. The publication explores the relationship between the environment and socioeconomic system, with an emphasis on sustainability and circular economy research.

Levine has been a member of the International Society of Industrial Ecology (ISIE) since the organization’s early days. With over 900 members, ISIE brings together policymakers, engineers, and advocates to integrate environmental concerns with economic activities. The mission of the ISIE is to promote the use of industrial ecology in research, education, policy, community development, and industrial practices. To accomplish this mission, ISIE seeks to build a community of interests, support cumulative learning, produce high quality research, and promote social change.