Although projects take her into a wide variety of technical subjects, such as proteomics and solid state lighting, Ariane Pinson's background lies in the earth sciences. She holds a doctoral degree in archaeology from the University of New Mexico (December 1999). Since 1992, her research has focused on the human response to climate change during the last ice age. She has studied the geological and paleontological record in southeastern Oregon in order to document the shift from temperate to cold desert environments during the period from 13,000 to 7000 years ago. She also conducted surveys and excavations to elucidate how humans adapted economically to the radical changes in landscape during this period. Dr. Pinson has also conducted geological and archaeological research at historic period sites in New Mexico and New York. Ariane is currently a Maxwell Archaeological Research Center Research Affiliate at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico.
Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Pinson worked as a cartographer / geographic-information stystem (GIS) specialist with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Boston, MA), a cartographer with Chas. T. Main, Inc. (Boston, MA) and a graphic designer.
Dr. Pinson remains deeply interested in the relationship between climate, landscape and human behavior not just in the remote past, but also in the present. Of particular interest are the global impacts of El Nino - ENSO cycles and global warming on water supplies, arable land, forests, and sea levels. She is currently beginnig geoarchaeological and archaeological research on the Clovis settlement of central New Mexico.