Our Research

Researchers propose paddy rice farming on agricultural floodplains as a potential scalable climate adaptation to increasing flood risk in the Northeast US, while enhancing the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production. Research objectives include: 1) map the floodplains that are suitable for rice farming in NYS; and 2) examine the synergies and tradeoffs in the provision of different ecosystem services in the potential rice farming sites. Extension objectives include: 1) understand the barriers and opportunities for small farm owners to adopt rice farming; and 2) set up demonstration sites to show the technology and feasibility of rice farming for local farmers.

• Faculty lead: Chuan Liao
• Funder: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Smith-Lever Grant
• Partners: Jenny Kao-Kniffin (SIPS) Susan McCouch (SIPS) Wendong Zhang (Dyson)

This project examines the extent to which Zambian farmers rely on past climate experiences and cognitive heuristics to make maize seed choices in the context of the ‘choice overload’ that emerged out of seed market liberalization. Researchers develop a methodology to bridge the spatial and cognitive dimensions around seed selection. Using a multi-scale modeling approach that combines physically based high-resolution land surface modeling with satellite data and machine learning, they identify hot spots of soil moisture variability and precipitation extremes. They then use satellite data of observed maize growth periods in these hot spots to create maps of sowing dates, growing season length, and yield outcomes for climate adaptive maize varieties. Combining these data products with surveys of smallholder farmers allows researchers to examine why farmers choose different seed varieties and sowing dates.

• Faculty lead: Kurt Waldman
• Funder: National Science Foundation
• Partners: Jordan Blekking, Postdoc in Global Development; Dr. Meha Jain, University of Michigan

This project traces the flows of secondhand cars from the US and Europe to West Africa, while seeking to contribute to debates about the social and environmental consequences of the used car trade and how to regulate it. Most narratives assume these cars are “junkers” and their displacement, like the north-south displacement of other secondhand goods, constitutes “dumping.” Instead of relying on pre-formed categories, this project looks at the creativity and ingenuity required to keep cars on the road and at how different forms of value are prioritized through cases of breakdown and repair in Benin, Chad, Guinea, and Nigeria – West African countries with different regulatory regimes and used car inventories.

• Faculty lead: Lori Leonard
• Funder: National Science Foundation

 Assessing the relationship between agency and education outcomes for girls

Binti Shupavu is a cluster randomized control trial combined with a qualitative process tracing study evaluating the impact of the Binti Shupavu girls' club program on adolescent girls' empowerment and education outcomes. The study has two main aims: first, to understand how and why the Binti Shupavu program works to improve girls' agency; and second, to causally identify and understand the relationship between agency and educational attainment and achievement for rural secondary school girls in Morogoro Tanzania.

• Faculty lead: Aubryn Sidle
• Funder: The Spencer Foundation - Research Practice Partnerships Grant
• Partners: Brenda Oulo (Visiting Lecturer, Cornell University); Dr. Eugenia Kafanabo (University of Dar Es Salaam); Monica Swai (GLAMI: Girls Livelihood & Mentoring Initiative); Asimwe Suedi (Amplify Girls)

Among Manhattan Chinatown Residents to Develop Community-driven Foundations for Clean Air Advocacy

A retrospective analysis of 85,328 patients tested for COVID-19 at New York City's public hospital system between March 1 and May 31, 2020 revealed that Chinese patients had a mortality rate of 35.7%, the highest of all racial and ethnic groups. Could poor air quality be the main course? Despite the disproportionate pollution that East Asian immigrants face in NYC, they are among the least involved in environmental protection initiatives. Using data collected through interviews, surveys, content analysis of news reports, and ethnographic observation, researchers explored Chinatown residents' awareness of the severity of the issue and how cultural differences in perceptions about the role of government have affected people's willingness to engage in self-advocacy initiatives to improve living conditions in the community.

• Faculty lead: Connie Yuan
• Funder: Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability