Primary Research Area Panel

Amy Snover will moderate this panel

Sara Curran will present, “Adding a Few Complications: Exposure and Livelihood Considerations.”

In this talk, Dr. Curran will offer a few theoretical and empirical observations about how to better anticipate social and behavioral responses. She will present a couple of findings from research in Thailand and the U.S. which incorporate both temporal depth in exposure to climate-related disasters and livelihood considerations that make migration more or less likely.   

Jeremy Hess will present, “Health, Wellbeing, Conflict, and Migration in the Upcoming IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.“

The Sixth Assessment Report is scheduled to be finalized in 2021. Jeremy Hess is a Lead Author on the chapter focused on health, wellbeing, and the changing structure of communities, which includes conflict and migration. He will discuss the main findings that his chapter team has identified thus far and their implications.  

Nathalie Williams will present, “Spatial and Temporal Dimensions of Weather Shocks and Migration in Nepal.”

In this talk, Dr. Williams will present empirical results from research on climate change and migration in rural Nepal, with particular focus on differences between long/short term and long/short distance migrations. She will discuss how the RWA theoretical framework is useful in understanding migration and non-migration as responses to weather shocks.

 

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Sara Curran is the Director of the Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology. Her research examines population dynamics, migration, environment, development and gender. Her methodological approaches include survey research, analyses of secondary data, and mixed methods. Currently, she is the President of the Association of Population Centers.

Jeremy Hess is an emergency medicine physician and is also trained in global environmental health. He directs the Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE). His research focuses on climate change and health, including health impacts, adaptation strategies, and preparedness in the health sector.  

Amy Snover is the Director of the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, University Director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (formerly Northwest Climate Science Center) and Affiliate Associate Professor in the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. She leads the Climate Impacts Group’s efforts to provide the fundamental scientific understanding, data, tools, and guidance necessary for managing the climate risks facing the people, communities, and ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Snover supports the development of regional resilience to climate variability and change by harnessing science in support of the real needs of resource managers, planners and policy makers. She works with a broad range of stakeholders to develop guidance for science-based climate risk management, identify research priorities and evaluate response alternatives.

Nathalie Williams is Associate Professor of Sociology and International Studies. Her research focuses on migration and other demographic behavioral responses to climate change, armed conflict, and social change in general. She primarily uses statistical analysis of survey data and computational simulation methods with a strong foundation of fieldwork in Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia.