
Katherine Browne

Katherine Browne is an environmental social scientist who uses mixed-methods to study politics, institutions, and climate change. She focuses in particular on how multilateral organizations and finance can foster climate adaptation among the world’s most vulnerable populations. Before joining SEAS' PhD program, Katherine completed a Masters in Environmental Justice, contributed to research projects in Gabon and Kenya, and served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar.
MS, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan (2015); Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Public Policy, Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan (2015); BA, Religious Studies, College of Charleston (2009)
Katie's research is broadly focused on the social consequences of climate change and global-to-local linkages in international climate policy.aKatherine's dissertation research investigates the implementation of globally-financed adaptation projects in two highly vulnerable countries in the Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar and Mauritius. She uses a multi-scale comparative approach that focuses on the role of formal and informal institutions in shaping the equity of these projects. In both countries, she conducted interviews with government officials and civil society representatives to examine governance and decision-making around climate change. She also carried out 600 household surveys in project sites in Madagascar. She is applying multi-level statistical models to this data to measure how project participation correlates to household vulnerability and access to political power.