Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Dennis Guignet has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to study The Effects of Toxic Air Pollution and Climate Change on Maternal and Child Health: A Scoping Study of Vulnerable Communities and Research Needs.
This NSF award is part of the NSF's Analytics for Equity Initiative, which supports social, economic, and behavioral sciences research that leverages federal data assets and scientific advances in researching equity-related topics for greater public benefit.
The work will be conducted by Dr. Guignet and Dr. Maggie Sugg, an associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, in partnership with the NSF and United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The researchers will conduct a pilot study and propose a broader research agenda. They will examine the independent and interactive effects of toxic air pollutants and heatwaves on newborn and maternal health in North Carolina and assess whether any adverse effects are systematically different across regions of the state and socioeconomic groups.
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The Department of Economics is a research-intensive department committed to student learning. The department offers a wide range of courses that provide critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, complemented by engaging students with faculty-led research opportunities. Faculty members are engaged in research that contributes to addressing local and global challenges related to environmental resources, economic development, trade, health, sports, and tourism. The Department of Economics is ranked among the leading U.S. economics departments for research productivity, and is particularly strong in environmental and experimental economics. Learn more at economics.appstate.edu.
Guignet, Sugg earn NSF grant to study the effects of air pollution and climate change on maternal and child health
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