My Research
As a geographer my research is grounded in theories of space and scale. I am the PI of the Climate, Land, and Spatial Science (CLASS) Lab at California State University Northridge. In the CLASS Lab, I research patterns of biophysical regeneration in ever changing social-environment systems from a Critical Physical Geography perspective. This means that I consider how policy, ecological, and physical landscapes all relate, feedback, and have a role in defining landscape regeneration.
Policy Landscape
Neoliberal policy discourses and tropical forest regeneration
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, Mexico
Publications in: Journal of Human Ecology (In review)
This project examines the impact of a neoliberal policy discourse history in Mexico on patterns of tropical forest regeneration within communities of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Using participatory mapping and discourse network analysis, I examine how ideas around land use and forest resources feedback to define particular patterns of forest regeneration in ejido communities. I am collaborating on this research with residents of Mesoamerican Biological Corridor Ejidos and researchers and faculty from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur and Rutgers University.
Environmental justice organizing and activism against double exposure
Los Angeles, California
This collaborative research demonstrates how individuals organize and act outside of formal policy venues to address the simultaneous and compounding impacts of socio-economic and environmental injustices. This research has three main threads: 1) the role of mutual aid groups in facilitating local, community based adaptation strategies to climate change; 2) the role of youth environmental justice organizing in creating region wide environmental monitoring and socio-cultural support networks to address double exposure; and 3) do build a broadly applicable framework for researchers to support environmental justice organizing and activism through action oriented research and education. I am collaborating on this project with community members, staff, and faculty from NGOs, mutual aid organizations, California State University Northridge, Northeastern University, and Princeton University.
Ecological Landscape
Tropical forest regeneration and socio-ecological resilience
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, Mexico
Publications In: Regional Environmental Change (2022)
Building on previous work from the Southern Yucatan Peninsular Region Project, this research goes beyond recorded patterns of deforestation and disturbance from land use and hurricanes to quantify spatio-temporal patterns of forest regeneration in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in Mexico. Combining remote sensing analysis, cartographic modeling, and ecological forest surveys, I quantified patterns of forest regeneration over a ten year period that encompassed multiple hurricane events and changes to local land use practices. This research is done in collaboration with faculty and researchers from Rutgers University and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal.
Post fire oak woodland regeneration
Western Sierra Region, California
This research examines post-fire regeneration in California's oak woodlands following major droughts and wildfires and in the context of multiple wildfire management practices currently employed across California. Using open access geospatial and ecological data sets collected at NSF NEON monitoring locations and measurements of seasonal subcanopy microclimates, I will model the relationship between regenerating oak forest stand structure, species composition, and microclimatic conditions under multiple wildfire management policies.
Physical Landscape
Impact of beach grass restoration for foredune morphology Arcata, CA
Publications In: Geomorphology (2018); Earth Surfaces, Processes, and Landforms (2022)
As part of a larger project to understand beach and dune dynamics of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I examine how beach-dune development is impacted by beach grass ecology and phenology during an ongoing management project. This research has two main parts: 1) Quantification of the rate of foredune erosion across spatio-temporal scales; and 2) Examining foredune morphodynamics and sediment budget responses to vegetation disturbance and re-establishment. This project involves collaborators from University of Victoria and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Policy Landscape
Neoliberal policy discourses and tropical forest regeneration
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, Mexico
Publications in: Journal of Human Ecology (In review)
This project examines the impact of a neoliberal policy discourse history in Mexico on patterns of tropical forest regeneration within communities of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Using participatory mapping and discourse network analysis, I examine how ideas around land use and forest resources feedback to define particular patterns of forest regeneration in ejido communities. I am collaborating on this research with residents of Mesoamerican Biological Corridor Ejidos and researchers and faculty from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur and Rutgers University.
Environmental justice organizing and activism against double exposure
Los Angeles, California
This collaborative research demonstrates how individuals organize and act outside of formal policy venues to address the simultaneous and compounding impacts of socio-economic and environmental injustices. This research has three main threads: 1) the role of mutual aid groups in facilitating local, community based adaptation strategies to climate change; 2) the role of youth environmental justice organizing in creating region wide environmental monitoring and socio-cultural support networks to address double exposure; and 3) do build a broadly applicable framework for researchers to support environmental justice organizing and activism through action oriented research and education. I am collaborating on this project with community members, staff, and faculty from NGOs, mutual aid organizations, California State University Northridge, Northeastern University, and Princeton University.
Ecological Landscape
Tropical forest regeneration and socio-ecological resilience
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, Mexico
Publications In: Regional Environmental Change (2022)
Building on previous work from the Southern Yucatan Peninsular Region Project, this research goes beyond recorded patterns of deforestation and disturbance from land use and hurricanes to quantify spatio-temporal patterns of forest regeneration in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in Mexico. Combining remote sensing analysis, cartographic modeling, and ecological forest surveys, I quantified patterns of forest regeneration over a ten year period that encompassed multiple hurricane events and changes to local land use practices. This research is done in collaboration with faculty and researchers from Rutgers University and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal.
Post fire oak woodland regeneration
Western Sierra Region, California
This research examines post-fire regeneration in California's oak woodlands following major droughts and wildfires and in the context of multiple wildfire management practices currently employed across California. Using open access geospatial and ecological data sets collected at NSF NEON monitoring locations and measurements of seasonal subcanopy microclimates, I will model the relationship between regenerating oak forest stand structure, species composition, and microclimatic conditions under multiple wildfire management policies.
Physical Landscape
Impact of beach grass restoration for foredune morphology Arcata, CA
Publications In: Geomorphology (2018); Earth Surfaces, Processes, and Landforms (2022)
As part of a larger project to understand beach and dune dynamics of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I examine how beach-dune development is impacted by beach grass ecology and phenology during an ongoing management project. This research has two main parts: 1) Quantification of the rate of foredune erosion across spatio-temporal scales; and 2) Examining foredune morphodynamics and sediment budget responses to vegetation disturbance and re-establishment. This project involves collaborators from University of Victoria and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.