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Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology

CSDE Winter 2025 Lightning Talks and Poster Session

Please join us on March 14th for CSDE’s Winter 2025 Lightning Talk and Poster Session from 12:30 – 1:30 PST! The poster session and talk will take place in Raitt Hall 221 at the University of Washington. This event will feature presentations from David Coomes (Doctoral Student, Epidemiology), Elizabeth Nova (Doctoral Student, Sociology), Aryaa Rajouria (Doctoral Student, Sociology), and Aidan Andronicos (Graduate Student, Sociology). We will provide light snacks and refreshments. Please find more information on the event here!

Gakidou Quoted in Article on Global Obesity Crisis

A new global analysis led by CSDE Affiliate Emmanuela Gakidou (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) in The Lancet warns that by 2050, about 60 percent of adults and a third of children and teens worldwide will be overweight or obese. In a recent article citing this study, Gakidou describes the crisis as a “monumental societal failure” and urges policymakers to use country-specific data to implement targeted prevention and intervention strategies. The study also suggests that while trends are alarming, immediate action could still curb the worst outcomes for future generations. Read the article here.

Xu Publishes Article on Transportation Infrastructure and Waste Management

Scholars have long debated the role of transportation infrastructure in shaping sustainable societies by influencing environmental impacts. In a recent paper, CSDE Affiliate Dafeng Xu (Evans School) examines how road upgrades affect household waste management, a relatively understudied environmental issue, particularly in the Global South. Using census and health survey data from Benin, Xu applies difference-in-differences regression models to compare waste disposal practices in areas with and without road improvements from a major road project launched in 2011. Study findings reveal that the project significantly increased sustainable, service-based waste collection in historically less developed communities involved in the upgrade. Read the full paper here.

Brown Quoted in New York Times Article on the Value of USAID Global Health Research

CSDE Affiliate Win Brown was recently quoted in a New York Times article covering the U.S. government’s decision to halt funding for the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Brown emphasized the severe impact of this funding cut, warning that it will hinder evidence-based policy decisions and international health progress. Dr. Brown’s perspective highlights the DHS Program’s role in guiding interventions and ensuring accountability in global health efforts. Read the full article here.

*New* National Academies Climate Conversations, Reports and Research On Urban Fires

In recent weeks, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) shared several resources related to urban wildfires. A NASEM Climate Conversation on urban fires addresses climatic and societal factors contributing to an increased risk of urban fires, effects on public health and human systems, as well as ways individuals and communities can prepare for and move forward in the aftermath of these disasters. Several valuable resources were also shared and can be found below.

Workshop Proceedings: The Social-Ecological Consequences of Future Wildfire and Smoke in the West
Workshop held June 2024

Report Interactive: The Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface
Report published September 2022

Workshop Proceedings: Wildland Fires: Toward Improved Understanding and Forecasting of Air Quality Impacts
Workshop held September 2020

Report Interactive: Why and When is Respiratory Protection Needed?
Report published February 2022

Workshop Proceedings: Indoor Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Practical Mitigation Approaches
Workshop held April 2021

Workshop Proceedings: Implications of the California Wildfires for Health, Communities, and Preparedness
Workshop held June 2019