Alan L. Kolata received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Harvard University. He has directed interdisciplinary research projects studying urbanism, agricultural development and the interactions of humans with their physical environment, including long-term effects of climate change on complex societies. His current research examines the integrated physical, biological, and social impacts of ongoing, large-scale hydroelectric development, land use change and rural to urban migration in the lower Mekong River Basin of Cambodia.