Thomas J. Baerwald

Thomas J. Baerwald serves as Senior Science Advisor in the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences at the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia. In that capacity, he assumes a number of major responsibilities. He is one of three program directors for the Geography and Spatial Sciences (GSS) Program. From 2001 to 2007, he was a Co-Coordinator of the NSF Biocomplexity in the Environment special competition on the Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH), and since 2008, he has been a program officer for a standing, multidirectorate CNH Program. He has served as a member of the NSF Working Group on Environmental Research and Education since 2001, and from 2003 to 2008, he was one of the members of the management team for NSF's Human and Social Dynamics interdisciplinary competitions. He also is a coordinator for environmental social and behavioral science activities, assisting in the conduct of interdisciplinary efforts that engage social and behavioral scientists in the studies of interactions among human and natural systems.

Baerwald has worked at NSF since 1988, serving as Geography and Spatial Sciences (formerly Geography and Regional Science) Program Director, Acting Director of the Division for Social and Economic Sciences, Interim Director for the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Coordinator for NSF Global Change Research Activities, and Deputy Assistant Director for the Geosciences. Prior to his service at NSF, Baerwald established and directed the Geography Department at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. He has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota and Macalester College. Since 1991, he has been co-author of a secondary school world regional geography textbook.

Baerwald earned a B.A. in geography and history from Valparaiso University and both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in geography at the University of Minnesota. Back in "the good old days" when he conducted basic research of his own, Baerwald specialized in studies of contemporary metropolitan development processes and urban transportation.

Baerwald has been an active member of a number of professional societies. He served three-year terms on the Council of the Association of American Geographers (AAG), first as West Lakes Regional Councillor from 1985 to 1988 and as later as a National Councillor from 2003 to 2006. Baerwald has been elected to serve as Vice President of the AAG from 2006 to 2007 and as President from 2007 to 2008. Baerwald also served as an AAG Council member from 2008 to 2009 while serving as AAG Past President. Baerwald served on the Executive Board of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) from 1987 to 1989, and he chaired long-range planning committees of both the AAG and NCGE.

Baerwald has been elected as a Fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. He has received Distinguished Service Honors from the Association of American Geographers and an Alumni Achievement Award from Valparaiso University. He also has received a Director's Superior Accomplishment Award from the National Science Foundation.