Dr. Joel Tarr

Biography

History provides essential context for understanding the development of contemporary problems. Joel Tarr is a historian whose research focuses on the history of urban technologies and urban infrastructure systems, and the development of environmental problems in policy. Specifically, he has written about the effects of transportation innovations, the uses of telegraphy in urban contexts, and the impacts of water supply and wastewater systems. Tarr's environmental work has addressed air, water, and land pollution, as well as the cross-media problems created by technological choices and changing disposal practices. He has also examined issues related to industrial pollution and has written on environmental policy formation at local, state, and federal levels, emphasizing the roles that professional groups play in setting priorities. His research primarily deals with changing conceptions of risk in the face of new knowledge and technologies, and the societal value changes that accompany these advancements. He collaborates with engineers on technology-related environmental research.

Research Interests