SSRI Open House - Faculty Flash Talks

Presenter:  Ryan Thombs, Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology

Title:  A Not-So-Just Transition: Declining Coal Mining Employment Lowers Life Expectancy in U.S. Counties

Abstract:  Driven by climate and energy policy priorities in national and global contexts, coal phase-out is expected to improve public health outcomes by reducing human exposure to air, water, and soil pollution and decreasing the number of workers in dangerous mining conditions. However, the transition may also increase economic distress in mining communities leading to poorer health outcomes—possibly offsetting the benefits of phasing out coal. We examine this hypothesis by assessing the relation between coal production, working hours per miner, coal mining employment, and life expectancy in 3,076 U.S. counties (97.9% of all U.S. counties) from 2012-2019. We develop and apply a novel spatial modeling approach that combines the half-panel jackknife fixed effects estimator with the spatial lag of X model and examine whether increases and decreases in each predictor are associated with life expectancy and whether these effects are asymmetric. We find that an increase in coal production in adjacent counties lowers life expectancy by 0.042 years (95% CI: -0.067, -0.018) in the focal county. Furthermore, we find that a decrease in coal mining employment within a county lowers life expectancy by 0.019 years (95% CI: -0.028, -0.011), while a decrease in employment in adjacent counties lowers life expectancy by 0.112 years (95% CI: -0.147, -0.076) in the focal county. Once we account for spillover effects, decreases in coal mining employment have a larger effect on life expectancy compared to increases in employment. These effects are broadly homogeneous across the U.S., except for increases in coal employment, which we show has a larger positive spillover effect in non-Appalachian counties compared to Appalachian counties. These findings suggest that both increasing and decreasing reliance on coal negatively impacts population health, underscoring the importance of a Just Transition away from fossil fuels.

Presenter:  Yan Lin, Associate Professor of Geography

Title:  “Place” social and environmental determinants of health – where do we go from here?

Abstract:  Following the recent spatial turn in health studies, there has been a growing emphasis on place-based and community-driven research. Recognizing the intricate connections between place, social determinants of health, the environment, and health outcomes, this talk presents case studies that examine these relationships in the context of cancer, healthcare access, rurality, and Native American environmental health. By highlighting how place-based research is conducted in these areas, this presentation invites a dialogue on the potential benefits of a more integrated approach that considers both social & environmental factors and to better “place” health data, encouraging a deeper understanding of the complex health challenges we face.

Presenter:  Mark Ortiz, Assistant Professor of Geography

Title:  Community-Engaged Climate Justice Research in the U.S. South: Insights from North Carolina 

Abstract: This presentation will focus on the author's long-term community- engaged work with a non-profit climate justice organization in North Carolina. Reflecting specifically on a recent art and performance-based community engagement project, this talk will synthesize insights related to community-engaged research, the long tradition of scholar-advocacy in environmental and climate justice research in the U.S. South, and practices of building and iterating theory in conversation with community partners. 

Presenter: Kyle T. Aune, Assistant Professor of Biobehavioral Health

Title: Urban Heat Risk and Resilience

Abstract: Extreme heat events, made more frequent and intense due to anthropogenic climate change, are associated with poor cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory health, as well as pregnancy risks and poor birth outcomes. These effects are compounded in dense city environments where the urban heat island effect amplifies temperatures. This work seeks to identify social and built environmental characteristics associated with increased exposure to extreme heat and to develop an adaptive capacity index specifically designed to characterize population susceptibility to health harms from extreme heat. This index may then be used for identification of areas in need of resilience infrastructure improvement. Future work will examine the relationships between modifiable built environmental factors and excess mortality due to extreme heat to identify the most impactful opportunities for resilience improvement.

A light lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. Please register here.