The Daily Bulletin Archive

Please join us for "Environmental Enforcement in Western New York," a presentation by Lourdes Vera 
assistant professor in the departments of Sociology and Environment and Sustainability at the University at Buffalo, on Monday, October 30, from 4:50 to 6:10 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151. The presentation is part of the Data Science and Analytics Seminar Series.

Presentation highlights:

• Open source, accessible data tools for communities and researchers to analyze EPA enforcement and compliance history data
• Examining the importance of government information and participatory democracy  
• Exploring issues in accessibility versus availability, equity, and justice with federal environmental data
• Investigating how environmental data exists at the government’s discretion and how it can be used both for the public good or in harmful ways 

Dr. Vera holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Northeastern University and a B.A. in urban studies from Barnard College at Columbia University, and is a former high school science teacher. As an environmental sociologist and civic scientist, she works with communities near industrial activity such as fracking to monitor their air for contaminants. She also serves on the Coordinating Committee of the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative, envisioning and building digital tools and research infrastructures for environmental data justice. Her interdisciplinary work spans environmental health, social science, and critical theory.