When you’re trying to change the world — in Phaedra C. Pezzullo’s case, by improving the environment — you need more than scholarly publications to create impact. 

It’s why one of her favorite stories involves the fact that her first solo-authored book, , inspired the lyrics to a punk-rock song by the band The Holland Dutch. 

“Something like that reaches people in more profound ways than just talking about policy or politics,” said Pezzullo, CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� communication professor in the College of Media, Communication and Information (CMCI). 

In early 2025, Pezzullo opened . And while an academic lab in a formal university setting may sound out of step for someone whose work galvanizes protesters and inspires musicians, she sees it as an exciting next step in the shifting conversation around sustainability. 

“The lab is already becoming a space where people from a range of disciplines who study sustainability — students, staff, faculty and community partners — can build relationships and consider the role of storytelling in the field,” she said. 

“Something like that reaches people in more profound ways than just talking about policy or politics.”

As with any university lab, creating high-impact learning opportunities for students is key. 

Activist Becomes Academic

Pezzullo’s formative educational experiences inspired her teaching philosophy. While a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she interviewed activists and community members in Warren County — known as the birthplace of the environmental justice movement — where landfill toxins were poisoning the water source serving a predominantly Black community. 

Listening to their voices and adding her own to the cause helped Pezzullo to see how a single story could unlock millions of dollars to clean a landfill. Cleanup work began as she completed her studies. 

“I became hooked on stories,” she said. “When we put storytelling into practice in service of complex problems, like sustainability, we discover why communication is captivating.” 

It’s part of why Pezzullo doesn’t limit her storytelling to scholarly publications. Her public-facing work on sustainability includes a podcast, , where she explores sustainability issues like plastic bag bans, disability justice and environmental treaties with other voices from the field. 

One of these voices was Emy Kane (IntlAf’13), managing director of , an organization that raises awareness about and offers alternatives to problematic plastics through partnerships with brands and engagement with companies, scientists and the global youth movement. 

“When we put storytelling into practice in service of complex problems, like sustainability, we discover why communication is captivating.”

“What inspired me most about Phaedra is her commitment to sharing stories borne from empathy and action,” said Kane. ���’m thrilled to see my alma mater support her platform and research so that the next generation of leaders are equipped with the stories they need to reimagine the systems that run our world.” 

Conversations on the podcast helped inform Pezzullo’s 2023 book, , which won three national book awards. Highlighting success stories, she said, is important to counteract the defeatism and fatalism that typically accompany sustainability stories — and she’s seeing such sentiments rising, even in her classroom. 

Oftentimes, in the wake of a victory, “people point out just how much is still wrong with pollution, with our climate, with the world,” she said. “Success isn’t that there won’t be more disasters — it’s that, with more thoughtful choices, future disasters may be less impactful. And that is a more challenging story to tell.”

Science Demands Better Stories

Amid news of rising temperatures, invasive microplastics and melting glaciers, it might seem frivolous to talk about sustainability in terms of good storytelling. But experts argue that we’ve struggled to make progress on environmental issues because the deeply scientific nature of these problems makes it hard for the general public to relate.

Robert Cox — Pezzullo’s mentor at UNC Chapel Hill, where he remains an emeritus professor — credited his protégé with laying the basis for how understandable stories can change the course on climate. 

“All the work being done to communicate climate science in the public sphere is now being talked about in terms of relatable stories that demonstrate the impact of climate change,” said Cox, a three-time president of the  environmental organization and co-author (with Pezzullo) of a textbook on the discipline. “Those stories resonate far beyond just the pages of an academic article. Phaedra’s work really laid the basis for the importance of narrative, of storytelling, to make complex environmental issues approachable.” 

“Success isn’t that there won’t be more disasters — it’s that, with more thoughtful choices, future disasters may be less impactful. And that is a more challenging story to tell.”

In her lab, Pezzullo is searching for that impact by forging partnerships within CMCI and CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� to bring different kinds of expertise to the challenge of impactful storytelling — something she’s already doing as director of the university’s graduate certificate in environmental justice. She’s lectured at universities across the globe and has collaborated extensively with  on climate change. In the meantime, she and her students build digital “story maps” that illustrate how Colorado communities are affected by environmental and climate injustice.

Pursuing Stories with Confidence

Independent reporter Anthony Albidrez (MJour’24) took a foundational course in environmental justice with Pezzullo to better understand how journalism supports sustainability through storytelling and rigorous news reporting standards. 

Because of his class experiences, Albidrez turned a course project about a stream cleanup in Honolulu, where he lives, into a report detailing how the local unhoused population was blamed for a mess that, when cleaned, amounted to 16 tons of trash being removed from the Makiki Stream. 

“I don’t think a group of homeless people can drag tons of trash into a streambed, but from my research, they were receiving the brunt of the blame,” Albidrez said. “Phaedra’s course helped give me the confidence to go beyond the government numbers and explanations and find the real story.” 

Pezzullo’s ability to encourage that sort of intellectual curiosity is what Cox most appreciates about her impact. Though he’s quick to credit her with pushing the boundaries of their field, Cox most admires how Pezzullo has guided the next generation of thinkers as they seek to advance sustainability through storytelling. 

“So many of her students are pursuing academic, business and nonprofit work in this area, and that speaks to her strength as a mentor,” Cox said. “She is such an unselfish person in terms of contributing her labor to the field of environmental communication — and that’s the kind of champion a story like this needs.” 

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Illustrations by Scott Bakal 

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On a fall day, elementary education majors in Melissa Braaten’s class are busy — busy as beavers, one might say — building mock beaver dams out of water and natural materials in small bins. During this exercise, budding teachers role-play teaching young learners in their future classrooms, asking questions and analyzing beavers’ role in ecosystems.

The climate science lesson is modeled after one that Braaten’s community partners teach at  in ����Vlog�ƽ�� County as part of  (C4CA). In this particular lesson, student scientists (lovingly referred to as “beaver believers”) study real beaver habitats in the local waterway, where the dams create wetlands habitats for other species and maintain lush surroundings important for the increasingly drier state of Colorado. 

Launched by retired fifth-grade teacher Tiffany Boyd (MEdu’92), C4CA brings together retired and practicing teachers, community members, local climate change experts and youth to work together toward climate solutions.

In C4CA, kindergarten through high school students learn about environmental justice issues and play an active role in climate solutions — from sharing flood-mitigation ideas with city council to working with open space officials to address fire risks.

Braaten, an associate professor of STEM education and associate dean for undergraduate and teacher education in CU ����Vlog�ƽ��’s School of Education, is a research partner for C4CA and documents how science teaching is powerful when it’s relevant to students’ lives and civic action. 

With Braaten as the connector, C4CA educators visit her elementary education classes to share real-world examples and create C4CA’s own “ecosystem” of current and future teachers working together to support young people’s scientific inquiry and leadership in climate solutions.

“A central ingredient for C4CA’s success is that it takes everyone working together to make a change,” Braaten said. “Teachers credit its partner mentorship with inspiring and sustaining their efforts to help children be civic actors working for environmental justice — not only as future adults, but in the immediate present as vital members of our community.” 

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Photo by Kristen Boyer/����Vlog�ƽ�� Valley School District 

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Azza Kamal wears many hats — besides teaching sustainable planning and urban design in CU ����Vlog�ƽ��’s Environmental Design (ENVD) department, she is an urbanist, policy researcher, and licensed architect in Egypt with a passion for building better and just cities. Her work tackles some of the toughest challenges in urban planning — housing instability, affordability and equitable development — while incorporating cutting-edge geotechnology and a commitment to social and environmental sustainability. 

What is sustainable planning and urban design?

Many factors affect sustainability — walkability, resource allocation, population density and the relationship with cars and the transit system. Sustainable planning examines how these factors intersect and addresses policy gaps that impact how and where people live, how they move around the city and the cost for all of this.

What is the link between social and environmental justice and sustainability?

Sustainability without social equity is a problem for everyone. It drives up costs — when we design and build beautiful, green-certified buildings, they often become unaffordable for large portions of the population. This exclusion can increase our carbon footprint, even as we aim to reduce it. Balancing housing affordability with sustainability is complex. We need to ensure we’re not just adding asphalt and concrete but creating livable, environmentally sound spaces that meet the needs of both people and the planet.

What’s an example of these consequences?

When there isn’t enough affordable housing near transit hubs and jobs, low- and moderate-income individuals often have to live farther from their workplaces. This leads to long, costly commutes, which can consume 60% or more of some households’ income while also increasing emissions. Everyone should have access to high-quality, healthy, walkable communities designed with strong environmental policies.

What is the solution?

Developers must be aware of community needs, supported by policies that ensure underserved populations benefit from sustainable, high-quality development. Both affordability and sustainability should be lenses for every project we build and every policy we create at the city and state levels. Otherwise, we risk solving one issue while exacerbating another. It’s complicated to advocate for these policies, but educating students to become thoughtful planners is essential. This is how we can move things in the right direction.

What major changes have you witnessed in urban planning?

For years, local governments have approached urban planning in silos — different departments working independently without much connection. But in the last 10 to 15 years, as we’ve seen more tangible impacts of climate change, cities have begun to adopt a more connected approach. Departments of sustainability are looking at the built environment from a holistic,  performance-centered approach: how developments are shaped, how people move to jobs, schools, goods and service areas and how infrastructure interacts with sustainability goals. This perspective is crucial if we’re going to design resilient cities for the future.

What does your day to day look like at CU?

My primary role is teaching and research, but I’m also part of an interdisciplinary team addressing housing affordability in the Mountain West. When I arrived at CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� in January 2024, we received a seed grant to model affordability forecasts for ����Vlog�ƽ�� County. We’re analyzing data to understand what areas are affordable, how the housing market is behaving and the characteristics of households in different areas. This research supports future policies that promote equity in housing access.

What other policy gaps are you addressing in ����Vlog�ƽ�� and across Colorado?

Colorado has made strides in emissions reform, particularly through policies tied to some typologies of affordable housing like ADU [Accessory Dwelling Units] and minimum parking requirements. But the state hasn’t yet measured how impactful these changes are and whether they suffice growing demand for low-cost housing or whether they meet the target emission reduction. That’s the next step — quantifying their effects. This spring, I’m working with students to study developments around transit hubs. We’ll analyze how reducing parking requirements impacts density, increases non-car commuting and reduces CO2 emissions.

What drives you to make an impact?

Justice for everyone. Developing according to the status quo might be easier and faster, and often more profitable, but it eventually harms us all. We must approach development with social and environmental justice in mind, ensuring that those who need affordable housing don’t fall through the cracks. High-quality, affordable housing should be the norm, not the exception. That’s far more important than flashy, high-end buildings.

What brought you to CU ����Vlog�ƽ��?

Colorado is known for its high quality of life, and the Environmental Design program is multidisciplinary, focusing on social and environmental justice. It’s one of the best programs for educating students on these critical issues. CU also attracts a high percentage of out-of-state students, giving it a broader impact. I see this as a privilege — I get to mentor students who will carry these lessons back to their communities and make meaningful changes wherever they practice.

How does technology fit into your work?

Technology is a powerful tool for planners. For example, we can use virtual and augmented reality to engage communities in urban design projects. When people see realistic models of proposed changes, they’re more likely to support them. This type of community engagement fosters trust and collaboration, helping us create solutions that reflect real needs and concerns.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Although my work seems complex and high-level, it’s rooted in connectedness — every decision we make impacts what we build, how we build and whom we build for. If we don’t consider these connections, we risk falling short of our goals. Teaching this can be challenging because it does not rely on linear thinking, as it involves so many intersecting factors, but I’m optimistic that multidisciplinary collaboration will equip the next generation with the skills and perspectives to make a real and lasting difference.

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Close your eyes and think about sustainability. What images and colors come to mind? Perhaps you see green, outdoorsy images of the natural environment. But as we work toward a greener future, we’ll also see metal and concrete — brown and gray — people and labs, bricks and batteries, communication and ideas. 

Sustainability is critical for the future of communities and the broader world, and its efforts are driven by entrepreneurs, scientists and creative thinkers.

CU’s focus on sustainability also zooms in on the individual. It asks: What does it take for people to thrive as they pursue their passions? A multi-layered approach must be thoughtful, methodical, collaborative.

Inside this issue, you’ll find the stories about advancing sustainability in areas that include renewable concrete, 3D printing and more holistic practices for musicians. And there are a few treats, including a personal essay about the Dark Horse and a story about CU’s No. 1 superfan: Peggy Coppom (A&S ex’46).

Happy reading!

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The stoke is high in Cañon City, Colorado, which has developed 62 miles of new, purpose-built hiking and mountain biking trails within the last decade. Residents hit the trails during lunch, after work and on weekends, and travelers visit the area for outdoor recreation-themed vacations.

As Rick Harrmann, the city’s economic development manager, said: “We love the trails, and we know visitors do too.”

But actually quantifying their value to the community — and showing city council a return on their investment — is a much harder task.

Fortunately, three CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� graduate students in the university’s Master’s of the Environment (MENV) program are up to the challenge. Nathan Boyer-Rechlin (�ѷ��Ա�’24), Joshua Corning (MEnv’24) and Eric Howard (MEnv’24) are partnering with Cañon City trail advocacy nonprofit Fremont Adventure Recreation to help determine the socioeconomic impact of trails in Cañon City. 

Since building new trails requires time, money and labor, the nonprofit — and the city more broadly — will use the students’ findings to help inform future decisions.

“A socioeconomic impact report hasn’t been done in this area — especially in regards to the value of recreation amenities,” said Ashlee Sack, Fremont Adventure Recreation’s coordinator. “In the wake of COVID-19 and the nationwide emphasis on work-life balance, as well as in the interest of attracting and retaining residents in our rural community, we’d like to be able to address trends, issues and opportunities in this arena.”

The three students are undertaking the ambitious project as their master’s capstone, an applied professional project that takes the place of a traditional master’s thesis. As MENV students prepare to pursue a wide variety of careers related to the environment, the capstone gives them hands-on experience with real partners and problems. 

Even if they don’t end up working in an area that’s specifically related to their capstone, the project gives them experience with everything from financial planning to community engagement.

Throughout their work, the students have found a common lesson. 

“There is so much pivoting,” said Boyer-Rechlin, a 31-year-old who came to the program after working in conservation ecology. “It’s constant learning and adapting as we encounter new challenges. It’s messy, and you have to be ready to adjust.”

Meanwhile, organizations that partner with CU ����Vlog�ƽ��’s capstone projects get the benefit of working with highly motivated students who, acting as external consultants, can provide innovative solutions to their challenges. 

“Harnessing the experience and education of the master’s students is a natural fit for our community as we navigate this first round of data collection and analysis,” said Sack. 

Each year, MENV students undertake roughly 30 capstone projects in partnership with Colorado-based nonprofits, government agencies and companies. This year, for example, some students are working with the footwear company Crocs while others are working with Growing Gardens, a nonprofit focused on local food systems. 

This diversity of projects is also reflected in the MENV students’ career aspirations. Some will pursue roles in renewable energy, while others may specialize in urban resilience. No matter what field they choose to enter, they’re poised to make a difference in Colorado and beyond.

“The breadth of what you can do with a master’s in the environment these days is as broad as the environmental problems that we’re facing,” said Boyer-Rechlin.

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Photos by Joshua Corning; Illustration by Sierra Walton

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As a writer living in Arkansas nearly a decade ago, Zoё Rom (MJour’18) was frustrated with the lack of variety in climate-related stories in the news. 

“Climate change stories were just preaching to the choir,” she said. “I wanted to bring environmental writing to new people. I wanted to take seriously their concerns and their desires and their passions.” 

She decided to hone her skills and jump into environmental writing full time, which brought her to CU ����Vlog�ƽ��’s environmental journalism graduate program within the College of Media, Communication and Information. 

At CU, she was exposed to an intellectual community who brought knowledge in areas ranging from snow leopards to fire ecology, she said, but also pushed her to challenge her perspectives on things like environmental ethics, justice and racism. 

“They’ve all become such a part of my DNA of how I approach things,” said Rom, who moved to Aspen after she graduated from CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� to cover the environment and ski industry for NPR. 

After leaving NPR, Rom moved to Carbondale, Colorado, and decided to continue telling stories in the endurance sports industry as she could weave in environmental angles while writing about athletes in areas like running, climbing or skiing. 

Today Rom is the editor-in-chief of Trail Runner magazine, managing editor for Women’s Running magazine and a contributing editor and writer for Outside Run magazine. She’s written about how ; how climate change has in mountaineering; or how gear companies are turning to to adjust to changing weather (a cooling race vest from Nike, for instance). 

During the pandemic, Rom — who is a trail runner — drew the attention of Tina Muir, CEO of , which uses the stories of top runners to spur social and environmental change. The two originally connected over a tweet about composting, but then forged a friendship centered on environmental activism. 

“Zoë puts in the time and diligence to make sure she has considered all variables, all perspectives in a situation,” said Muir, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri. “She knows that words matter, and she puts forward a lot of energy to make sure what she is sharing is impactful and accurate.”

Muir suggested the duo write a book. They spent the next two years conducting interviews and research to craft , which caters to runners of all levels and is a solutions-focused guide to climate advocacy. The book was released in August. 

“A primary challenge I found in interviews was that many people didn’t see themselves as ‘activists’: They didn’t want to go vegan, they didn’t really want to stop flying,” said Rom. “So we just wanted to head-on address those concerns in a compassionate and evidence-based way.” 

The book garnered the attention of runner and best-selling author of . 

���’ve been waiting a long time for a book that puts running in the broader context of our bodies, our minds and the world around us,” he said. “Becoming a Sustainable Runner is that book.”

Rom hopes the book inspires people to become politically active in their local communities and generate curiosity about where they can make the most impact. And while the book aims to draw attention to larger climate issues, it focuses on the importance of self care, too, Rom said, who finds solace in her own mountain runs and quiet connections with nature. 

“It’s necessary to care for your community and planet in the same way it’s essential to care for yourself,” she said. “And on the flip side, I wanted to demonstrate for folks who already are doing a lot of climate or community work that it’s important to take that time to take care of themselves and sustain themselves as well.” 

Photos courtesy Zoё Rom

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Pollution’s Impact on Babies 

Air pollution can alter the gut microbiomes of babies during their first six months of infancy, according to first-of-its kind CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� research. These pollutants — which can include exposure to traffic, wildfires or industrial zones — could affect the baby’s collection of resident microorganisms in ways that promote inflammation, influence brain development and increase risk of allergies, obesity and diabetes. The study was in the journal Gut Microbes.

Palm Trees Inspire New Wind Turbines 

In a move away from the traditional upwind turbine design that can result in heavy blades breaking in extreme winds, a team of CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� researchers — in conjunction with collaborators at the University of Virginia, the University of Texas at Dallas, the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) — developed a two-blade downwind turbine modeled after the flexible and bendable nature of palm trees. The team presented the results of four years’ worth of research with their SUMR (Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor) turbine at the American Control Conference in Atlanta in June 2022. The turbine performed consistently and effectively during peak wind gusts at NREL’s Flatirons campus in Arvada, Colorado, they said. The team hopes to continue its research with large-scale, offshore downwind turbines.

The Misinformation of Marijuana Labels 

In the largest analysis to date of the chemical composition of marijuana products, CU-involved research found that product labels can be confusing or misleading to consumers. Brian Keegan, CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� assistant professor of information science, teamed up with three cannabis scientists to study nearly 90,000 samples across six states. Cannabis labels with categories such as indica, sativa and hybrid did not accurately convey enough information about the chemical composition of the product, the researchers found. Their study, which calls for a more rigorous labeling system, was published in the journal in May. 

Heard Around Campus: 

“History set us up for a poor response to the pandemic.”

— Jose-Luis Jimenez, CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� distinguished chemistry professor and lead author of an assessment published in August in the journal that examined historical medical mistakes in respiratory disease research. 

Digits

The Sharkive In 2018, the CU Art Museum acquired a massive collection of printmaking artwork known as the “Sharkive” from master printer Bud Shark of Shark's Ink, a printer and publisher of contemporary prints.

1976

Bud Shark opened his original studio in ����Vlog�ƽ��, before relocating it to Lyons, Colorado, in 1998

$1.35M

Cost of the acquisition by CU ����Vlog�ƽ��, one of its biggest art purchases to date

~850

Original artworks in the Sharkive, along with over 2,500 related materials

33

Shark’s Ink prints on view in the art museum’s new exhibition

Four

Years of planning went into the exhibition 

July 15, 2023

Date exhibition closes

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Photo by Kelsey Simpkins

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Max Kiefer (Mgmt’04; OrgMgmt’21) spent the last two decades building a career as a sustainability professional, holding positions at Costar, CB Richard Ellis and Healthy Buildings International. Today he serves as the sustainability director at , an air monitoring and purification technology company operating in over 100 countries around the globe. 

What was your favorite part about your time at CU? 

The highlight has to be a business class I took called “Profiles in American Enterprise” that allowed undergrads to be teaching assistants to a class of 30, give a presentation to over 1,000 people, connect with CEOs — mine was Patagonia CEO Michael Crooke — and become a published author. 

Could you tell us a little about what Wynd does? 

What we really focus on is speciation and contextualization — basically telling you exactly what’s in the air. Our monitors and purifiers communicate with one another through connected sensors. These sensors can pull in particulate matter and tell if it’s pollen, mold or smoke from a cigarette, and instruct the purifier to respond accordingly. We then aggregate all this data in a mapping system to give consumers a report of their space’s air quality. 

Why does indoor air quality matter? 

People spend more time inside now, and indoor air quality can be nine to 10 times worse than outdoor air quality. Things like office buildings and apartment complexes used to be just for the owners to monitor and manage. But now, individuals have more access to data and have the power to ask questions and push for change in the places that they live, work and play. 

What creates poor indoor air quality? 

Poor indoor air quality often comes from simple things people don’t pay attention to: cooking, vacuuming, cleaning — even carbon dioxide from breathing. Improving indoor air quality often comes down to educating individuals on simple items to improve their space, such as opening windows. The COVID-19 pandemic also changed the way people talk about air quality. With the pandemic, we became more aware of how viruses travel through the air — and poor air quality makes that spreading even easier and compounds the ramifications.

What gives you hope for the future of air quality? 

I’m hopeful that with more data out there we can continue to uncover solutions to maintaining better air quality. I’m also optimistic about the direction sustainability is heading. It’s evolving to incorporate health and wellness and environmental justice, ensuring these technologies will bring all individuals — particularly those who have been marginalized in the past — forward to the future of healthy buildings.

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Photo courtesy Max Kiefer 

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When Lori Peek (PhDSoc’05) started graduate school in the Department of Sociology in 1999, natural disasters were still largely framed as “acts of God” — isolated events only occasionally impacting an unlucky few, with everyone equally vulnerable to their wrath.

Today, with climate change fueling bigger and more frequent wildfires, hurricanes and floods, and many people experiencing multiple disasters in their lifetime, a different picture is emerging.

“There is growing recognition that these are not ‘great equalizers,’” said Peek, director of the . “People at the margins suffer first and worst.”

For two decades, Peek has applied a social science lens to the study of natural disasters, touching down on site within days of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, tornados in the Midwest, earthquakes in Alaska and wildfires in the West to explore not why buildings collapse and how to make them stronger, but rather who lived in those buildings and what happened to them.

Peek’s research has elucidated how social fault lines around race, gender, age, disability and income often determine who is hit hardest or recovers fastest.

“Hurricane Katrina was a huge marker moment,” said Peek, who , as terrified residents waited on rooftops for help to arrive. “You had people dying in the streets of a major American city. There was no denying how much your station in life can literally determine if you live or not.”

Peek notes that vulnerable populations are often at a disadvantage before the disaster hits: They might not have the resources, like cellphones and Wi-Fi, to stay informed — or the time, social networks or transportation to leave when necessary. 

Individuals over 65, particularly those with a disability, are often most likely to die. And in the aftermath of disasters, people living on the margins often end up homeless.

“In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, we see communities come together in the most extraordinary ways.”

“Disasters often become a mechanism for pushing the poor out of a community,” she said, referencing mobile home parks in ����Vlog�ƽ�� County that were destroyed and never replaced after the 2013 flood.Children are also prone to mental health problems long after the event, she said, particularly if their schools are closed and communities dispersed for a long time.

In contrast, those able to get back to school, connect with friends and find support from their community can not only survive but thrive, she has found.

“In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, we see communities come together in the most extraordinary ways.”

She hopes that just as the findings of her engineering colleagues may someday inform new, stronger structures, her work can inspire social policies to make vulnerable populations more resilient both before and after disaster strikes.

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Kenya and Tanzania are home to diverse groups of nomadic herders, or pastoralists — peoples like the Maasai, Turkana and Samburu who depend on cattle for their survival and cross wide expanses of grasslands to keep their cows fed. 

They also engage in occasional cattle raiding. Men arm themselves with AK-47s, which you can buy for around $8 in parts of East Africa, and sneak into their rivals’ territory in the dead of night to steal cows. Sometimes, the consequences are deadly.

CU ����Vlog�ƽ�� researchers John O’Loughlin and Terrence McCabe had long wondered: In arid regions of the world like these wide pasturelands, could climate change make violence worse?

"The future of peoples like the Maasai or Turkana may depend on tackling all of these challenges and more together."

“When people live on the margins already, it doesn’t take much to push them over the edge to take desperate measures,” said O’Loughlin, professor of geography.

To get to the bottom of that question, O’Loughlin and McCabe, professor of anthropology, teamed up over the last decade to conduct several surveys of communities across Kenya. They discovered that people who fled their homes to escape drought, including some pastoralists, were over three times more likely to be victims of violence than Kenyans who remained in place.

But the situation is complicated: In many pastoralist communities, traditional elders often meet with leaders from nearby communities, even sworn enemies, to hash out their differences. Those kinds of leaders seem to significantly reduce the risk of disagreements devolving into bloodshed, even in the midst of severe droughts.

O’Loughlin and McCabe worry, however, that East Africa’s pastoralist peoples may be losing their ability to adapt to a changing environment. The team surveyed more than 500 people from Isiolo County near the center of Kenya four times from early 2020 to early 2022. Their preliminary results suggest that life in this region is getting worse as people contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, a historic locust invasion and repeated droughts.

"The future of peoples like the Maasai or Turkana may depend on tackling all of these challenges and more together," McCabe said. 

“What I’m worried about is that people who have been resilient to these kinds of environmental changes for centuries will lose their resilience,” he said.

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