Eric Bonds

Professor of Sociology University of Mary Washington

  • Fredericksburg VA

Dr. Bonds studies and writes about climate change and environmental politics in Virginia.

Contact

University of Mary Washington

View more experts managed by University of Mary Washington

Social

Biography

Eric Bonds, Professor of Sociology, has a PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He studies climate change and environmental inequality in Virginia, most recently focusing on data center development and the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence. He has published numerous peer-reviewed academic articles and two editions of a social issues textbook, along with regular contributions to The Fredericksburg Advance and other news sites. Professor Bonds teaches classes in social issues, environmental sociology, environmental justice, and social theory.

Areas of Expertise

Environmental Justice
Environmental Sociology
Human Rights
War and Violence

Education

University of Colorado

Ph.D.

Graduate Studies

2011

University of Wyoming

B.A.

Undergraduate Studies

2001

Media Appearances

For data center sustainability in Virginia, state regulation is a must

Chesapeake Bay Journal  online

2025-05-19

Spreading out from Northern Virginia, data centers are being proposed in communities across the Chesapeake Bay region.

View More

Fredericksburg residents gather to discuss the pros and cons of data centers

The Free Lance-Star  online

2025-02-03

The panelists were Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine, Daren Shumate, who said he has been designing data centers for 25 years, Tracy Vargo, Brent Hunsinger of the FOR and University of Mary Washington sociology professor Eric Bonds.

View More

Can "Blue Zones" be a solution to environmental injustice?

Environmental Health News  online

2022-10-27

“When we say environmental racism people think about Hurricane Katrina or Cancer Alley in Louisiana,” Eric Bonds, associate professor of sociology at the University of Mary Washington, told EHN. “However, environmental injustice and racism is all around us.”

View More

Show All +

Articles

Data Centers, Non-disclosure Agreements and Democracy

Virginia Mercury

Eric Bonds and Viktor Newby

2025-04-30

We fear that the widespread use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and a larger ethic of secrecy regarding data-center development curtails meaningful debate and impairs local democracy, write guest columnists Dr. Eric Bonds and Viktor Newby.

View more

To See a Recent Win for Democracy, Look no Further Than Virginia. But the Work Must Continue.

Virginia Mercury

Eric Bonds

2025-03-20

While the influence of money has seemingly intensified in Washington, Virginia legislators have taken a serious step to reduce corruption at the state level, writes guest columnist Eric Bonds.

View more

Data Centers and Virginia’s Special Kind of Denialism

Virginia Mercury

Eric Bonds

2024-12-02

The reelection of Donald Trump shows the continued prevalence of climate denialism, which involves a rejection of the scientific consensus that human activity is changing the climate. As in his first term, Trump will no doubt try to hold our country back in the race to slow climate change by phasing out fossil fuels.

View more

Show All +