Peter J. Parks, a Professor at Rutgers University, and Research Associate at the Environmental Economics Unit at the University of Gothenburg, has passed away. Professor Parks has contributed in so many ways, both as researcher and teacher, to the academic environment in the field of natural resource economics in Sweden. In Gothenburg, Peter has been involved in teaching several generations of graduate students from all over the world in natural resource economics since 1998. He has also co-authored several articles. In Umeå, Peter was involved in a large research program with focus on natural resource management in northern Sweden between 1998 and 2003. We had the pleasure of getting to know Peter as a teacher, researcher and, most importantly, as a warm and dedicated friend.
In both research and teaching Peter was both systematic and enthusiastic. In developing a research idea into a publishable paper with Peter as co-author you knew that you were in the best possible company. His systematic side really came to the fore in the early stages of the research process. Whether the natural resource problem at hand was conflicts between forestry and reindeer husbandry in Sweden, fuelwood collection in India, or gold mining in Ghana, Peter always had that instant intuitive understanding of the economic gist of the problem. This made the job of developing a structural model that could capture the core elements of the problem at hand a breeze.
As an academic writer Peter was precise and to the point. He was a dream to work with, bringing to the table beautiful academic English, a structure, methodological precision and deep knowledge and concern about the resources that were studied. But he was also a master at responding to referees – laying out what we wanted to do with the paper in a language that made it sound as it was the wish of the referee.
Peter loved to teach and it showed (see http://www.environmentfordevelopment.org/research/researchers/meet-an-e…). His enthusiasm for his subject, combined with a dedication to not leaving anyone behind made him a favourite among graduate students in natural resource economics. The systematic side was evident in teaching as well – classes were extremely well organized and no students were left in doubt what was expected of them. His lectures were in fact like the most professional entertainment events. Everything was minutely rehearsed. He could use multiple PowerPoint’s, make notes on the board and when he finished – exactly on the second, he had also exactly covered the board in neat columns and rows that beautifully summarized the message. He taught the technically most challenging part of the PhD program in Gothenburg but managed to make it appear so simple that everyone understood. It was as if you could do relativity theory for kindergarten kids – a true miracle and of course he got the very highest of evaluations from all the students, and they all loved him.
As a friend Peter was warm and generous. His trips to Sweden were always work-related, but we always found time for private activities and Peter loved to visit both Gothenburg and Umeå. He made Gothenburg one of his “homes away from home” and had the habit of hosting dinners in such a perfectly hospitable way so that it was the most natural thing to be treated as a guest of honor in your own town. He also brought the best of American barbeque skills to the backwaters of the Swedish West coast. To be invited to his home in New Jersey was a treat, given that you were always rewarded with the results of Peter’s great cooking skills. His reoccurring teaching trips to China and Singapore had given him a great taste for Asian cooking, a taste he wanted to share with his friends.
Peter was a prominent member of a large global family of Environmental Economists. He has been the teacher of hundreds of graduate students that are now spreading his gospel. His academic work is well read and often cited. He was taken away from us much too soon and he will be missed all around the world. In Sweden we not only miss an appreciated colleague, we miss a dear friend. We grieve with his family.
Associate professor Göran Bostedt, Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå
Associate professor Gunnar Köhlin, Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg
Professor Thomas Sterner, Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg