Title: Investigating the role of equity and sense of place in climate adaptation

Abstract: As climate change worsens and exposes vulnerable populations to natural hazards, there is a growing call to understand the nuances and complexities of climate adaptation. In this talk, Dr. Bailey draws on multiple case studies from the western US and the northeastern US to unpack the realities of climate adaptation. She specifically highlights two key themes: equity and sense of place in the context of drought and flooding. Her goals are to understand both how climate adaptation efforts may exacerbate inequity and strategies to avoid this, and how our relationships with the environment may be altered and modified in the course of adapting to environmental change. This research helps us think more holistically and inclusively about climate adaptation efforts and consider novel approaches to adapting to the changing realities of water in the US.

Light lunch served at 1145, please RSVP.

Bio:  Dr. Karen Bailey is an Assistant Professor in the department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is interested in human-environment interactions, climate change, and sustainable rural livelihoods. She is an environmental social scientist and combines social science research with environmental and ecological data to understand feedbacks between communities and their environments, how we can build resilience to climate change, and how to support landscapes that meet human needs and sustainability goals. 

Presented by: Population Program, CU Population Center and Environment and Society Program