Anga Center Capacity Building Core

Columbia Univ New York Morningside, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section Residents of communities most susceptible to and with limited financial and material resources to prepare for and cope with the adverse effects of extreme weather have a profound stake in advancing the global understanding of extreme weather-related health and strategies to reduce adverse outcomes. Approaches to extreme weather and health research that actively engage participation and strengthen community-based capacity are critical to reducing vulnerability. This is a key principle of the Capacity-Building Core. The overall goal of the Anga Center’s Capacity-Building Core is to enhance local and regional research on extreme weather and health by investing in infrastructure, early-career researchers, and local communities; by building the knowledge and technical skills; and by fostering relationships between extreme weather and health researchers and communities in multi-directional ways. One of our strategies for achieving this goal is to support communities and early-career researchers interested in extreme weather and health and to cultivate meaningful relationships and knowledge-sharing between them. There is incredible potential to enhance extreme weather and health research and adaptation through investing in local weather-monitoring infrastructure, facilitating community-based learning, co-producing knowledge, and increasing the usability of extreme weather and health information. Using a multi-pronged, collaborative approach, the Capacity-Building Core will work to achieve these goals in East Africa. Through the installation of relatively low-cost local weather stations that can be integrated into existing national and regional weather-monitoring networks; investments in capacity-building opportunities for at-risk communities; and knowledge integration and exchange between scientists, researchers, and community members, the Capacity-Building Core will strive to enhance local and regional extreme weather and health research (Aim 1). Recognizing the critical importance of encouraging and supporting early-career investigators in extreme weather and health we will focus part of the attention of the Capacity-Building Core on supporting a multidisciplinary cohort of future leaders of extreme weather and health (FLEWH) PhD students through fellowships, mentorship, trainings, seminars, workshops, and hands-on research opportunities (Aim 2). Finally, the Capacity-Building Core will focus on promoting interdisciplinary research and fostering authentic partnerships between extreme weather and health scientists, investigators, and communities through a pilot research project program (PRPP). The PRPP will provide multidisciplinary teams of researchers, including at least one early-stage researcher, funding to carry out a community-engaged pilot research project and mentorship support to apply for extramural funding using the data collected during the pilot project (Aim 3).