December 1, 2024, Filed Under: Presentations and WorkshopsClimate Atlas presented at AGU Patrick presented the NASA-funded Climate Atlas at AGU, discussing how to combine community tacit knowledge with earth observation data to address urban flooding and heat. The Atlas integrates interactive geospatial data layers that explore hazard exposure with social vulnerability metrics and local policy information in the form of a story map to serve as a tool for communities.
August 1, 2024, Filed Under: PublicationsAssessment of the Resilience Hub Network provided to the City of Austin Patrick and Deidra co-authored a report summarizing the development and implementation of the Resilience Hub network in Austin, and outlined challenges facing the current network and identified future opportunities for expansion Data from the latest Austin Area Sustainability Indicators community survey was included in the report. Findings on who is more or less prepared for emergency events as well as the location of hubs within low or high socially vulnerable areas provides critical context for further expansion of Resilience Hub networks and cooling centers across the city.
August 1, 2024, Filed Under: Presentations and Workshops, Student AchievementsSummer REU students present their research. Undergraduates Willow Nagai (University of Rochester) and Abby Couture (Wellesley College) joined the group as part of the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates, lead by the Environmental Science Institute at UT Austin. During this 8-week program, Abby and Willow gained research experience by assisting with the lab’s research activities and conducting an independent research project. Students were co-advised by Dr. Patrick Bixler, Dr. Eric McDaniel, and Dr. Deidra Miniard. Abby presented her project investigating climate anxiety, green space, and social vulnerability. She found that there was more greenspace in areas with more community relationships, and areas with more social vulnerability live in areas with less tree cover. Willow, presented her project investigating resilience hubs, cooling centers, and social vulnerability in the Austin area, finding that those with stronger community relationships are more prepared for emergencies.
January 4, 2022, Filed Under: PublicationsMulti-hazard community resilience New publication in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction discusses how researchers and city agencies can map multiple climate hazards to understand the disproportionate risks for more socially vulnerable residents. This paper builds upon climate vulnerability maps available at the A2SI website. https://a2si.lbj.utexas.edu/explore-data
August 30, 2021, Filed Under: PublicationsIncreasing Adaptive Capacity for Floods New publication connects neighborhood connections to adaptive capacity to flooding Events like the recent Hurricane Ida and other cyclone activity in the Atlantic and Pacific only remind us that the impacts of flooding to property and well-being are ever present and dangerous. Increasing adaptive capacity to flood events is critical. Especially in socially and economically vulnerable communities. Our research demonstrates the important effect of social capital – the networks, cohesion, and trust – within one’s neighborhood for increasing mitigation behaviors.
August 23, 2021, Filed Under: Student PlacementsRecent Doctoral Student Nominated for Top Federal Position President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint Maria-Elena Giner to be the U.S. Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission. As a first-generation college graduate and daughter of an immigrant, she will be the first Latina nominated as Commissioner of the International Boundary Water Commission.
January 4, 2021, Filed Under: AwardAustin Area Sustainability Indicators project wins international award The Austin Area Sustainability Indicators (A2SI), an initiative led by LBJ School Professor Patrick Bixler and supported by the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, was recently selected for the 2020 Community Project Impact Award from the Community Indicators Consortium (CIC). The honor recognizes “a project that is grounded in, and supported by, the community and use data to analyze, communicate community conditions, engage the public and policy makers to catalyze action for making measurable and sustainable improvements in quality of community life.” A2SI aims to measure quality of life, sustainability trends, and serve as the foundation for a systems approach that addresses challenges in Central Texas. Indicators describe context, identify trends, and translate data into points that are easier to communicate — and they span population demographics, civic life, education, health, mobility, economy and environment. By measuring and reporting on indicators within nine indicator themes, the project strives to make the Austin Area a better place to live. The initiative is sponsored by St. David’s Foundation, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Austin Community Foundation, Episcopal Health Foundation, City of Austin and Travis County. Bixler was recognized at the CIC’s Virtual Impact Summit in August 2020. An international consortium, CIC “supports communities’ efforts to improve quality of life. Since 2005, CIC has provided resources and tools to help communities and practitioners advance the practice and effective use of community indicators.”
