RFG1 Research Summaries

The Western Planner organization has named CAPLA Associate Professor Ladd Keith its 2025 Planner of the Year, honoring his pioneering leadership in climate-responsive planning and community resilience across the American West

Karletta Chief, a renowned Diné hydrologist and director of the Indigenous Resilience Center, was named inaugural recipient of the Agnese Nelms Haury Endowed Professorship in Indigenous Resilience for her contributions to the fields of hydrology, Indigenous resilience, environmental justice and climate change outreach and research.

The consortium combines the expertise of U of A faculty members with external partners to take on the dangers that come along with living in extreme heat.

The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) held their joint conference from August 17-20, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. ISES and ISEE provide opportunities for career development, exchanges of innovative research and ideas, and networking opportunities for exposure scientists and environmental epidemiologists worldwide. This conference featured a women’s networking event, multiple symposia showcasing research, poster sessions, and flash talks to encourage conversation and collaboration.

Auto repair shops employ approximately 1% of the U.S. labor force. Workers in this industry are routinely exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids found in many products and processes. Exposure to VOCs is often associated with irreversible health effects, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive and neurological symptoms. Despite these risks, VOC exposure studies are quite sparse.

Amanda Wilson, PhD, was given an award by the International Society of Exposure Science.

Working with members of the Hopi Tribe, this project recruited 76 households throughout Hopi lands and conducted chemical analyses to assess arsenic levels in various water sources at two different time points. The team also administered questionnaires for a more comprehensive understanding of participants’ usual food intake.

Curriculum on extreme heat and health impacts designed for youth helps educate and inform.

Research on how PFAS impact gene activity.

Ladd Keith, PhD, has been appointed to Arizona Governor Katie Hobb's new Workplace Heat Safety Task Force.