Finding a Sustainable Path in Geography with Professor Giovanni Baiocchi

Professor Giovanni Baiocchi is a distinguished scholar in the field of geographical sciences and environmental economics, celebrated for his extensive contributions to the intersection of these disciplines. However, his journey to academic excellence and personal fulfillment was anything but straightforward.

Born in Venice, Italy, Baiocchi's innate curiosity about the natural world was evident from a young age. He was the kind of child who liked to observe ants slowly going about their daily activities. Much like many children of his generation who watched the broadcast of the moon landing, his first passion was astronomy. Yet, his thirst for knowledge extended well beyond the stars. “When they first gave me a book, I read it about 100 times,” he said. 

During his childhood, a move to Switzerland, where he was surrounded by a different language and culture, made him retract even more to books. There, his family experienced difficult circumstances, and working was more urgent than studying. ”It was hard to find a time with sufficient stability for people to go to school,” he said. “You had to fight everyday if you wanted to study.” Most people who are pushed by their families to go to work early are trapped, and for a while, it appeared he was too.

In 1986, Baiocchi found himself working as a waiter, a time when Halley's Comet was capturing the world's attention. “Even though I worked until late at night, I always tried to keep up with my readings and follow the event.” His determination eventually allowed him to save enough money to resume his education, but something was still holding him back: “I didn’t go into science because I was concerned about the future,” he reflected. “I went into economics.” Ultimately, his family's advice favoring a more practical and financially stable career path held sway.

Academic Journey

Fast forward to June 2006, Baiocchi received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of York in the United Kingdom. His doctoral thesis “Economic Applications of Nonparametric Methods” was a unique accomplishment for the Baiocchi family. Nevertheless, he couldn't shake the feeling that economics was not his true calling. “Ultimately, the only value that matters in economics is money; I always thought it was too reductionist,” he said. Baiocchi was already developing an interest in exploring the environmental impacts of economic activities, and he wanted to cross over to other disciplines and work with other researchers, a move that wasn't widely encouraged in the field of economics at that time.

Before that, he completed a master’s in economics at Virginia Tech University, where he was exposed to a variety of disciplines for the first time. “I would spend my summers taking all sorts of classes in engineering, statistics, neural networks, matrix theory, whatever,“ he said. “I really loved the fact that there were so many knowledgeable people at the university; until then, I did my university without attending any classes,” he chuckled. He simply hadn’t seen any advantage in going to classes when he could simply read his books.

Baiocchi continued his work in economics but increasingly felt a desire to engage with the world. “The limitations of the economic models are so extreme. They would require us to be perfectly rational, and we are not,” he explained. “I wanted to research topics that I cared about and that would make a difference.” Baiocchi was gradually pushing the boundaries of his old discipline as he yearned to delve into global environmental issues.

“Once I started to see these images of oceans full of plastic, places that were paradise that we managed to destroy ... it made me more interested in doing this ... It’s not just climate change. If you understand the Earth system, it is such a beautiful thing; we are a part of this environment and now we are destroying it, species are disappearing …”

When Preparation Met Opportunity

His career took the right turn when Baiocchi joined the Department of Geography faculty at the University of Maryland in 2013. His background in computational and environmental economics, plus his expertise in geographical data science and mapping  —both self-taught— made him the right addition to the department.  

From Baiocchi’s perspective, taking on a new job across the ocean was a big move for him and his new family. The year before his only son was born.  “I remember quoting John F. Kennedy [from the ‘We Choose to Go to the Moon’ speech] to Chris Justice, GEOG chair at that time: ‘I do this not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard.’” But it was easier than he expected.  It quickly became apparent that GEOG was the right place for him, where he was able to widen the scope of his research, bridge his scientific interests and work with like-minded people. “You can be yourself,” he said, about his experience at the department. “I finally didn’t feel awkward about trying to justify what I am doing.” 

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Baiocchi’s Insights

His Personal Commitment to Sustainability

Beyond his professional role, Baiocchi leads a sustainable lifestyle by minimizing resource usage, practicing minimalism, and adopting eco-friendly habits like reducing travel and supporting vegetarianism. He believes in setting an example through his own choices to contribute to a more eco-conscious world. He bought his first smartphone last year.

He often talks to his son about ecosystems and how we all depend on nature. Even in a society, people rely on each other, Baiocchi tells him. He tries to make his son see that every little thing is connected. He said that researchers also must rely on their colleagues’ expertise to work better.

What Geography Brings to Human Sustainability

Geographical sciences play a key role in human sustainability, he explained. By understanding the context and location of environmental issues, researchers can better identify where damage is occurring and who is affected. Without this geographical context, achieving human sustainability is impossible. Addressing sustainability requires acknowledging the complex interplay of global and local factors and recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective.

His Research in Human Geography

Baiocchi evaluates the environmental impact of human activities, like driving cars, eating certain types of food or working in certain jobs. His research is looking into what moves people to make these choices. What are the barriers that prevent win-win situations like decreasing meat consumption, which would benefit the environment and the individual? Why do some people don’t believe in climate change? Although these behaviors may seem irrational, there are always explanations, and researchers must investigate these. He highlights the importance of understanding the factors that drive people to adopt sustainable practices and the need to make a sustainable lifestyle more accessible and attractive to a wider population. 

“Once I started to see these images of oceans full of plastic, places that were paradise that we managed to destroy ... it made me more interested in doing this ... It’s not just climate change. If you understand the Earth system, it is such a beautiful thing; we are a part of this environment and now we are destroying it, species are disappearing…”

Global Challenges and Local Perspectives

Baiocchi deeply understands the challenges posed by the need to balance environmental conservation with the needs of local communities. He emphasizes the importance of addressing inequity and ensuring that economic well-being is intertwined with environmental conservation. Divisive, often simplistic, narratives pushed by the media — “they want to take away your burgers!”— can exacerbate these challenges and hinder progress.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

As an IPCC lead author and an expert for the European Commission, Baiocchi is actively engaged in shaping global policies. He stresses the need for richer countries to take on more significant responsibilities and acknowledges that the history of emissions and current consumption patterns must be considered when allocating responsibility. His role involves accommodating the needs of other countries, while underlining the critical importance of tackling environmental problems at the source. For example, cobalt mining in Africa for the sake of electric cars’ lithium-ion batteries in Europe shifts the problem from carbon emissions to resource deforestation, habitat disruption, soil and water contamination, air pollution, and other major social and human rights issues “kicking the can down the road,” as he put it.

A Simple Policy 

He believes that the most powerful messages are simple and clear, with easy-to-understand positive consequences, such as reusing products and reducing consumption.

Looking to the Future:

As a member of the University Sustainability Council, Baiocchi has worked with and taught undergraduate students. “You tend to lose hope, but when you see the new generation, they want concrete solutions,“ he said.  

Lately, in his IPCC role, he’s been concerned with bringing diverse perspectives in science, and making the field more inclusive and representative of different voices. This semester, he’s also teaching GEOG 601: Nature and Practice of Science, where he hopes his students will leave with a deeper understanding of these issues and be inspired to pursue a more sustainable and equitable future.

 

Images courtesy of Giovanni Baiocchi. Main image: Baiocchi and his son visit lake Artemesia near UMD to watch birds dive, crayfish crossing paths and turtles —"of course!"— soon after moving to Maryland. Second image: License driver's photo from 1993 during Baiocchi's first time in the United States. "I had very long hair at the time. I loved attending courses and going to museums."

Published on Thu, 11/02/2023 - 14:06