The , led by Brian McAdoo, associate professor of earth and climate science, is concerned with understanding upheavals in the atmospheric, hydrospheric and lithospheric Earth systems and the ways that humans are impacting these systems in ways that ultimately compromise our own health and well-being.
Its goal is to reduce the suffering associated with global change and associated disasters. Central to this goal is understanding how human decision making directly impacts the systems that keep us alive – this is the premise of Planetary Health, the framework upon which the lab builds its work.
Ph.D. students Danilo Meyer-Arrivillaga, Aaliya Aaliya and Ryan Parks recently shared insights into the PlanetLab, its research, their experience in the lab and the opportunities the lab offers 51±¬ÁÏ students.
The PlanetLab is concerned with understanding upheavals in the atmospheric, hydrospheric and lithospheric Earth systems and the ways that humans are impacting these systems in ways that ultimately compromise our own health and well-being. Our goal is to reduce the suffering associated with global change and associated disasters. Central to this goal is understanding how human decision making directly impacts the systems that keep us alive – this is the premise of Planetary Health, the framework upon which we build our work.
Our lab's research focuses on the inextricability between human health and Earth systems by considering the increasingly deleterious, transformational impact of human activities on these natural systems and characterizing such human-induced disruptions in ways that consequently harm human health.
To that end, we are investigating:
Meyer-Arrivillaga: My favorite memory was from October 2023, during the second phase of our drilling operation on 51±¬ÁÏ's central campus. I had the opportunity to bring out to the drill site. This was particularly special because it's the school I attended growing up in Durham, and I was even able to reconnect with one of my teachers who was still there!
We showed the students the rock cores and gave them a basic understanding of geothermal energy and our team's goals. Science education has always been important to me, so sharing our experience with them was really rewarding, especially since the drill site was just a few blocks from their school.
As a Durham native, giving back and connecting with the community is essential as our lab continues its work. This also ties into the values of the PlanetLab of connecting and giving back to local communities as well as providing science communication to the public.
Aaliya: The most rewarding and intellectually stimulating aspect of my experience in PlanetLab has been engaging in interdisciplinary research, enabling me to work closely with some of the rural communities in the Himalayan region of Nepal and Pakistan. This interdisciplinary research has given me valuable insights across multiple disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences and global health. Through this academic lens, I have recognized that complex challenges necessitate multifaceted solutions, best approached through systems thinking. By integrating diverse expertise and perspectives, we can develop more holistic and practical solutions to address pressing global issues.
Imagine living in a house perched on a mountainous terrace beside a river, subject to rockfalls and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall—and even more vulnerable to erosion from flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Will you be able to sleep at night during a heavy downpour, with thunderstorms roaring and the river's sound growing ever louder and more menacing? Or with the temperature rising to uncomfortable levels? Unfortunately, the residents of Pakistan's Hunza Valley, where I grew up and still have family, are among the many in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region prone to multiple mountain hazards, GLOFs being the most terrifying. In the last six years, Hassanabad has been hit by four major GLOF events, putting additional stress on their daily lives. While Hassanabad represents an extreme case, rural mountainous communities throughout the HKH region face an array of climate-related hazards, and these events drastically impact their health and well-being.
Despite these environmental risks, rural mountain communities continue to live in these hazard-prone areas for social, cultural, and economic reasons. Even with the changing climate and the increasing frequency of GLOF events in the Hunza Valley, to date, no research has been conducted to understand their impacts on the mental health of exposed communities. To fill this research gap in understanding the connections between a climate-induced mountain hazard and mental health outcomes, we conducted a cross-sectional study in the summer of 2024 in Hassanabad to estimate the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder among the residents impacted by past GLOF events. Over 3 weeks, I led a team of five research assistants to administer mental health surveys in 112 households covering 305 individuals aged between 18 and 60.
On Sunday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2024, we were collecting data in Hassanabad when the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse, forcing us to pause our work due to intense rainfall. As we waited, hoping the rain would stop, it only intensified. We decided to head to Aliabad, a neighboring village. As we passed through a rockfall zone in Hassanabad, I started a video recording when a rock struck our vehicle. Startled and fearful of injury, I screamed. Fortunately, we were safe, but I felt a sense of innate loss after returning home. For the next few nights, I struggled with my sleep, dreaming of rockfalls and floods in the village. My thoughts often turned to the residents of Hassanabad, who live under the constant fear of losing their lives and sources of livelihood yet remain resilient, adapting to the evolving risks and environmental challenges. Reflecting on my field experience, I felt the connection between climate-induced hazards and mental health issues and a dire need for research on their intersectionality.
As such, it is essential to safeguard communities most at risk by investing more in building their resilience and adaptive capacity against the anticipated impacts of climate change and related hazards. To achieve this overarching goal and enhance my understanding of the connections between climate change and mental health crises, I am collaborating with mental health researchers at the University of Liverpool in the U.K. Currently, I am undertaking my research in the U.K., which is another valuable experience in PlanetLab.
I am always grateful to my supervisor, who has always been supportive and equipped us with all the necessary tools, skills, and opportunities so that we can grow both personally and professionally. The preliminary results of our cross-sectional study demonstrate more women at risk of developing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, coinciding with past studies that show female gender as a predictor of higher levels of mental health problems. Therefore, my long-term goal is to design a community-based intervention that will equip individuals with the tools to manage stressors in their day-to-day lives. I envision that this foundational research-driven intervention will serve as a model for advancing climate change and mental health research aiming toward community-centered interventions to identify, treat and cure mental disorders among communities most at risk in remote mountainous regions. Our theory of change posits that collaboratively generating research insights into individuals' lived experiences and mental health conditions post-hazard will encourage stakeholders, policymakers, academic institutions and healthcare organizations to allocate increased resources and funding towards advancing climate change and mental health research and enhancing the universal healthcare service provision in resource-poor settings.
Parks: The most rewarding experience in the PlanetLab has been the field expeditions to the Manombo Special Reserve of Southeastern Madagascar. I recently traveled to the Manombo Special Reserve (MSR) in Southeastern Madagascar in the Fall of 2024 and was there from Aug. 31 to Nov. 5. As a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the PlanetLab and an awardee of The 51±¬ÁÏ Climate Research Innovation Seed Program, the guiding question of my research is: How do extreme climate events affect the water-related health effects in the MSR?
To begin addressing our overarching question, my objectives this field season were three-fold. First, we sought to establish stream gages in the two main rivers in our study area’s drainage basin to understand how river dynamics relate to diarrhea and malaria cases. Second, we wanted to collect a second set of water samples in the previous sample areas to be analyzed for bacteria strains to inform their source and health effects. Third, we were curious if there was a weather station nearby where we could obtain more accurate weather and precipitation data compared the global datasets. We are also interested in Health In Harmony’s health data pertaining to malaria and diarrhea cases. Fourth, we planned to map the water sample location with a multispectral drone to characterize the type of vegetation associated with various water quality and to also identify areas prone to standing water.
My team established 2 stream gages: one in each of the two major rivers in our study area. I was able to sample the drinking and bathing water sources from 12 villages surrounding the MSR and tested for total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The mean concentration of E. coli was 292 mpn/100 ML, greatly exceeding the WHO drinking water standard of 0 mpn/100mL. I exported samples to the U.S., working with the 51±¬ÁÏ Microbiome Center to identify the strains of E. coli and other pathogenic bacteria present in these water sources. We were able to connect with the municipal weather station in Farafangana, obtain temperature, pressure, and precipitation data, and also organize a working collaboration for future seasonal and annual data entailing those three parameters. My team also used a multispectral drone from the 51±¬ÁÏ Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab to map large swathes of the village areas to better understand the topographical dynamics influencing stream flow and the presence of standing water over time. Data analysis for the stream gages, water quality, weather station data, and drone mapping are currently in progress.
PlanetLab offers a unique and enriching environment for student growth. Research opportunities often involve international travel, fostering global awareness and cultural understanding. Students are encouraged to engage with the Durham community, developing a sense of civic responsibility and applying their knowledge to address local challenges.
The lab strongly emphasizes professional development, providing access to conferences, workshops, and other events that enhance research skills and career prospects. Students are also actively encouraged to present their work at conferences and seminars, improving their communication and presentation abilities. These combined experiences equip students with a strong foundation of knowledge, essential skills, and valuable connections, preparing them for successful careers in academia or industry.
Each month the Nicholas School will highlight the work of one of its labs through the lens of lab members. For more information on 51±¬ÁÏ Environment research visit our research page and to keep up with the latest news, . Explore more about PlanetLab on.
