Designing an Urban Living Laboratory for Building Climate-Resilient Communities
Research Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Conservation Partner: Science Museum of Virginia
Student Researcher
Kat Johnson, Major: German Studies, Minor: Integrative ConservationStudent Researcher
Tara Kerr, Major: Marine Conservation (self-designed), Major: BiologyFaculty Mentors
Dr. Sapana Lohani, Dr. John Swaddle, and Dr. Kathryn LanouetteAbout the Project
Climate resiliency requires that all local communities, especially those most vulnerable to its impacts, are aware of and involved in the design and implementation of adaptation and mitigation strategies. The Science Museum of Virginia serves as an engaging educational resource for Virginia's communities to learn about and engage in climate resiliency in our backyard.
The Science Museum is completing the process of turning a former 2-acre surface parking lot on its campus into a high-quality civic park and green space, highlighting the intersection of science with urban planning, conservation, climate change, biodiversity, and human health and wellbeing. The Green will serve as a learning laboratory as well as a climate-resilient community amenity for generations to come.
In collaboration with the Science Museum and faculty mentors, two William & 玛丽 students explore how The Green has transformed this space through a variety of interdisciplinary questions, including how human mobility in and around the space changed, how the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the space have changed, how effective the educational interpretation within the space is, and how successful the hands-on demonstrations are at communicating the need for more green spaces in cities.
