Dr. Jeremy Spoon's research focuses on how political, economic, and ecological forces influence ecological knowledge and understanding inside and around mountainous protected areas. He is interested in how power relations shape perceptions and knowledge of place and whether or not the local decisions of these actors are socially, environmentally, and/or economically sustainable at certain points in time and in different contexts. Dr. Spoon also strives to apply research findings to projects created in participatory ways.

He continues several interpretive planning projects that carry out collaborative research as well as building, landscape, and exhibit design for four U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service visitors centers, interpretive trails, picnic areas, lookouts, and campgrounds. Assisted by ten PSU graduate and undergraduate students, he worked with The Mountain Institute and federal agencies to host two inter-generational camping excursions with more than 100 Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute) participants in Nevada featuring cultural demonstrations, pine nut harvesting driving tours, and hikes. 

Dr. Spoon is continuing his long-term research with the Sherpa in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal, conducting exploratory studies on local perceptions of non-biodegradable litter as well as follow-up research on local knowledge of edible mushrooms and lichens. He recently started a position as a reviewer of the Disaster Management Plan for Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park.