Research

In many parts of the United States, and across the world, extreme weather events are becoming more common. Events – like heat waves, floods, droughts, and wildfires – are getting more intense, happening more often, and causing more destruction. We know that these extreme weather events can harm people’s health, from babies and children to adults and the elderly. So, it is critical that we develop ways to protect communities from these health risks and recover quickly when these weather events happen.
 

At ECO-Health, our scientists study how wildfire smoke and high temperatures, and their combination, harm our health during all phases of our lives. We especially focus on California communities that experience things like poverty, hunger, and poor neighborhood conditions. We also work with community members to develop interventions that can reduce the health risks that come from wildfire smoke and extreme heat while also addressing community experiences and needs.  

Our Research Approach
 

ECO-Health offers workshops, trainings, and mentoring for its scientists on how to conduct research on extreme weather events and health. We teach about topics like environmental epidemiology, machine learning, implementation science, intervention development, and community-engaged research methods. We also provide training and mentorship for our community partners in order to strengthen our ability to work with one another. 

ECO-Health Trainings: