Maria's research interests lie in the law and policy of environmental protection. She is particularly interested in the ways we make decisions on environmental matters, especially in areas of high technological complexity and controversy. She concentrates on the governance of decision making, examining the use of expertise, public participation and varied regulatory approaches. Maria's work also examines the borderlines between private law (especially tort) and environment / public health regulation. The private law of tort is frequently however called on to protect individual rights or interests (in eg property, physical integrity, amenity) affected by regulation itself or by a regulated activity. Where these private / individual rights and interests meet collective / public interests, the private law of tort meets regulation.