Chris Coutts

About Chris Coutts

Dr. Coutts’s research examines the influence of ecologically-sensitive planning practices on community health. His ecological planning research explores how the natural environment supports the ecosystems essential to health. His work has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, US News and World Report, Forbes, and The Atlantic.

Selected Publications

Shen, R., Williams, P., & Coutts, C. (2024). Identifying the health benefits of city bike infrastructure expansion policy. Journal of Urban Affairs., Botchwey, N., Stiftel, B., Coutts, C., Ross, C., & Chatman, O. (2023). Community design and revitalization to promote health: The track record after 20 years. Journal of the American Planning Association, 89(2), 157-159., Coutts, C., Holmes, T. & Jackson, A. (2019). Forestry policy, conservation activities, and ecosystem services in the remote Misuku Hills of Malawi. Forests, 10(2), 1056., Coutts, C. (2016). Green infrastructure and public health. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

\Coutts extends the tradition of Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson...showing how green infrastructure—sweeping natural landscapes to trees to small urban greenspaces—not only provide precious ecosystem services, but are essential to our health, well-being, and even our survival as a species.”

Recent Courses Taught

URP 3527: Green Global Health (Honors course), URP 5521: Public Health Epidemiology (online), URP 5425: Methods of Environmental Analysis, URP 5525: Health Behavior and Education (online)