Ahamed Zakaria

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Biography

Ph.D. Environment and Society

Ahamed Zakaria is a graduate student at Utah State University, contributing to the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental and Society and brings a wealth of experience from previous research and professional roles in environmental, social science, urban planning, and resource economics. Ahamed holds a Master’s degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of Delaware and a Bachelor’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

Ahamed’s work emphasizes the intersection of environmental sustainability, resource management, and economic policy. He has contributed to projects such as studying the impacts of PFAS contamination on housing markets and developing the tourism master plan for Bangladesh. His experience working with NGOs, INGOs, and consultancy firms has honed his expertise in monitoring and evaluation, project management, and GIS-based data analysis.

Ahamed is passionate about helping communities balance the environmental, economic, and social trade-offs of tourism and recreation, making informed decisions for sustainable growth. In addition to his research, Ahamed has significant outreach experience, working with stakeholders to design, implement, and monitor field activities, including using smart technologies for water security in underserved communities. He aims to support the sustainable development of outdoor recreation and tourism while enhancing resource management practices in urban and rural settings.