Charlotte Mourad L&S Social Sciences
Community-Scale Air Quality Exposure Analysis for Health Disparities
What individual- and household-level interventions are most feasible for the mitigation of air pollution exposure in underserved and disproportionately impacted communities? This is a critically important question as exposure to ambient air pollution is a globally leading cause of adverse health and morbidity. Furthermore, underserved communities are limited economically, so it is important to co-develop feasible strategies for those with fewer resources. Centering on the needs of underserved populations in the Inland Empire, with potential global applications, this project will contextualize applications for air pollution emissions data in regions that have been severely impacted by exploitative economic practices (e.g., warehousing and rail expansion for goods movement, fossil fuel mining, etc.). Working within the constraints of an under-engaged population to come up with a practical solution helps them gain autonomy over their own exposure. This project has the potential to inform other researchers in air quality engineering and apply the findings of their analysis in a sensitive, accessible, and human-centric manner.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for your generosity and support of my project. I am so thankful to have this amazing opportunity to serve a community so close to my own. The financial support of the Gates Foundation has given me the chance to dedicate my full summer to engaging with the community in such a meaningful way and I am so grateful for that.