Environmental Research Network

The Climate Resilience Working Group aims to establish an integrated network for knowledge-sharing and coordinated strategies addressing the Midwest’s unique climate challenges. The group focuses on tailoring research outputs to meet the immediate needs of communities, ensuring scientific findings are both accessible and actionable for decision-makers. A primary goal is formalizing the Midwest Regional Environmental Network to identify key partners across the region. This initiative seeks to build lasting, equitable climate resilience through collaborative relationships.

PI: Travis O’Brien

Email oescue@iu.edu for more information.

Examining the health effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution, the Pollution and Air Quality Working Group focuses on how ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) and extreme heat interact to tax the cardiovascular system. The research specifically targets rural Indiana communities, studying household levels of pollutants and investigating how factors like diet and lifestyle exacerbate inflammation. These findings inform public health interventions, such as improved air quality monitoring and pollution reduction policies aimed at mitigating risks for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

PI: Rodrigo Armijos

Email oescue@iu.edu for more information.

The Water Working Group aims to revolutionize water research through the creation of the Indiana Deep Data Well (IDDW), a centralized water data hub. This initiative integrates hydrological monitoring data with large repositories and visualization tools to address water scarcity, quality, and governance failures. By fostering transdisciplinary collaboration across natural sciences and informatics, the project supports research in sustainability and health while serving the state of Indiana and the broader water community through data distribution and analysis.

PIs: Todd Thompson and Ginger Davis

Email oescue@iu.edu for more information.

This Climate and Health Working Group investigates the health impacts of extreme heat, particularly on vulnerable populations and individuals with chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease. Researchers aim to identify manipulable causal pathways, such as temperature-sensitive drug interactions and the role of residential air conditioning in mitigating health risks. By linking electronic health records with housing data and Medicare claims, the group develops evidence-based tools to support revised clinical practices and urban heat mitigation strategies to protect public health.

PI: Kosali Simon

Email oescue@iu.edu for more information.