Primary research interests focus on testing and enhancing human behavior, decision, and persuasion theories in environmental education and communication (especially risk) contexts applying structural equation modeling, meta-analysis, and case studies. Most current studies focus on evaluating environmental education programs.

Research Interests:
Environmental education (behavior change, evaluation, education for sustainability, professional development, pre-service); environmental (risk) communication; business & environment (especially green marketing); fish/fisheries/Great Lakes (issues related to education, communication).

Current Research & Projects

• Dr. Zint led the development of the My Environmental Education Evaluation Resource (MEERA) website, www.meera.snre.umich.edu. MEERA provides environmental educators with resources to help them conduct and improve evaluations of their programs.

• Dr. Zint conducts on-going research on predicting responsible environmental behavior. A current study seeks to identify ways a federal watershed education grant program can foster changes in teachers’ environmental education practices and students’ environmental actions.

Teaching Interests:
Environmental education, sustainability communication, social sciences & environment, sustainable business

Current Teaching:

• Environ 211: Social Sciences & Environmental Problems
• Environ 382: Introduction to Environmental Education for Sustainability
• NRE 581: Advanced Environmental Education
• NRE 677: Special Topics in Environmental Education & Communication

Selected Publications:

• Zint, M., Kraemer, A. & G. E. Kolenic. In Press. Evaluating Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences: An exploration into the effects on participating students’ environmental stewardship characteristics and the relationships between these predictors of environmentally responsible behavior. Studies in Educational Evaluation: Special Issue on Research in Environmental Education Evaluation. Download PDF
• Zint, M. & K. Wolske. In Press. From information provision to participatory deliberation: Engaging residents in the transition toward sustainable cities. In Mazmanian, D. and Blanco H. (Eds.) The Elgar Companion to Sustainable Cities: Strategies, Methods and Outlook. Edward Elgar Publishing, Northampton, MA. Download PDF
• Levy, B. L. M. and M. Zint. In Press. Toward fostering environmental political participation: framing an agenda for environmental education research. Environmental Education Research. Download PDF
• Kelly, M., Little, S., Phelps, K., Roble, C. & M. Zint. 2012. Watershed outreach professionals’ behavior change practices, challenges, and needs. Applied Environmental Education & Communication 11(1): 35-52. Download PDF
• Zint, M. 2012. Advancing environmental education program evaluation: Insights from a review of behavioral outcome evaluations. In Stephenson, B., Brody, M, Dillon, J., and Wals, A. (eds.), International Handbook of Research in Environmental Education, pp. 298-309. Routledge, New York, NY. Download PDF
• Zint, M. 2011. Evaluating education for sustainable development programs. . In Leal Filho, W. (ed.), World trends on education for sustainable development, pp. 329-347. Peter Lang, Frankfurt. Download PDF
• Zint, M, B. Covitt, and P. Dowd. 2011. Insights from an Evaluability Assessment of the US Forest Service More Kids in the Woods Initiative. Journal of Environmental Education Journal of Environmental Education 42(4): 255-271. Download PDF
• Zint, M., Dowd, P. and B. Covitt. 2011. Enhancing environmental educators' evaluation competencies: Insights from an examination of the effectiveness of the My Environmental Education Evaluation Resource Assistant (MEERA) web site. Environmental Education Research 17(4): 471-497. Download PDF
• Forbes, C. and M. Zint. 2011. Elementary teachers' beliefs about, perceived competencies for, and reported use of scientific inquiry to promote student learning about and for the environment. Journal of Environmental Education 42(1): 30-42. Download PDF
• Zint, M. 2010. An introduction to My Environmental Education Evaluation Resource Assistant (MEERA), a web-based resource for self-directed learning about environmental education program evaluation. Evaluation and Program Planning 33(2): 178-179. Download PDF
• Duvall, J. and M. Zint. 2007. A review of research on the effectiveness of environmental education in promoting intergenerational learning. Journal of Environmental Education 38(4): 14-24. Download PDF
• Zint, M. and A. Higgs. 2006. Education. Catalog of Conservation Social Science Tools, Society for Conservation Biology,http://www.conservationbiology.org/workinggroups/sswg/catalog/education.cfm Download Word Doc
• Pollak, T. and M. Zint. 2006. Are newspapers steering potential hybrid drivers off course? An analysis of U.S. newspaper coverage of hybrid electric vehicles. Journal of Applied Environmental Education and Communication 5(1): 51-61. Download PDF
• Covitt, B., Gomez-Schmidt, C., & Zint, M. 2005. An evaluation of the risk education module exploring environmental issues: Focus on Risk. Journal of Environmental Education 36(3): 3-13. Download PDF
• Brook, A., Zint, M. and R. De Young. 2003. Private landowners' responses to an endangered species act listing: Implications for conservation. Conservation Biology 17(6): 1638-1649. Download PDF
• O'Brien, C. and M. Zint. 2003. Do newspapers lead with lead? A content analysis of newspaper coverage of lead health risks to children. Journal of Environmental Health 65(10): 17-22. Download PDF
• Zint, M. 2002. Comparing three attitude-behavior theories for predicting science teachers' intentions. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 39(9): 819-844. Download PDF
• Zint, M., Kraemer A., Northway, H. and L. Miyoun. 2002. An evaluation of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's conservation education programs. Conservation Biology 16(3): 1-9. Download PDF
• Zint, M. and H. Hanson. 2002. Exploring environmental careers. Environmental Science & Technology 36(1): 22A-26A.
• Zint, M. 2001. Advancing environmental risk education. Risk Analysis 21(3): 417-426. Download PDF
• Zint, M. and R. Frederick. 2001. Marketing & advertising a "deep green" company: The case of Patagonia, Inc. Greener Management International: The Journal of Corporate Citizenship 1(1): 93-113. Download PDF
• Zint, M. and R.B. Peyton. 2001. Improving risk education in grades 6-12: A needs assessment of Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin science teachers. Journal of Environmental Education 32(2): 46-54. Download PDF
• Zint, M. and A. Giles. 2000. Environmental education undergraduate and graduate programs and faculty in the United States, 2nd edition. North American Association for Environmental Education, Rock Spring, GA.
• Zint, M., and A. Crook. 1998. A needs assessment of fisheries education materials for youth. Fisheries 23(10): 24-34. Download PDF