Dr. Cory Whitney

Dr. Cory Whitney

Researcher

University of Bonn

Biography

My research tackles a core problem in sustainable development: well-intentioned policies often fail because they overlook local reality and deep uncertainty. As a human ecologist, I bridge this gap by co-developing probabilistic decision models with stakeholders — from smallholder farmers to policymakers — to embed their lived experience directly into the analysis. My focus is on practical tools. I use Bayesian networks and Monte Carlo simulations to quantify the trade-offs of agricultural interventions, identify leverage points, and pinpoint strategies that are robust, resilient, and equitable. The ultimate goal is to replace best guesses with informed confidence for the communities most affected by these decisions.

Interests
  • Human Ecology
  • Agroforestry
  • Decision Analysis
Education
  • PhD in Agricultural Sciences, 2018

    University of Kassel

  • MSc in Sustainable International Agriculture/International Organic Agriculture, 2011

    George-August University Göttingen/University of Kassel

  • BA in Human Ecology, 2003

    College of the Atlantic

  • AA in Natural Resources Management, 2001

    Sterling College, Vermont

Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Postdoctoral researcher
University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Horticulture Institute
Apr 2018 – Present Bonn, Germany
Teaching graduate courses, graduate student supervision, project management
 
 
 
 
 
Guest researcher
Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Oct 2016 – Present Bonn, Germany
Teaching interdisciplinary graduate courses in programming and modeling.
 
 
 
 
 
Scientific staff
Hochschule Rhein-Waal
Nov 2013 – Jun 2017 Kleve, Germany
Teaching undergraduate courses in horticulture.

Publications

(2025). Wild edible plants selection of tibetan and naxi people in northwest yunnan, china. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, (21), 1, pp. 74, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-025-00816-x.

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(2025). Comparing nature conservation policies using a Bayesian belief network: Modeling sequential effects on adoption, farming practices, and biodiversity. Conservation Science and Practice, pp. e70146, https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70146.

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(2025). Decision support for selecting suitable frost protection methods for apricot orchards in Germany. Acta Horticulturae, 1425, pp. 231–238, https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2025.1425.30.

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(2025). Markets and incentives strongly drive agroforestry adoption: insights from ethnic minority smallholders in Son La, Vietnam. Agroforestry Systems, pp. 99:129, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-025-01199-4.

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(2025). Model-based decision support for the choice of active spring frost protection measures in apple production. Agricultural Systems, (224), pp. 104255, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104255.

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