Session 4
Tech Lightning Talks
Thursday, January 16, 2025
3:10 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Rising Risk, New Solutions: Innovations in Vector Control to Respond to a Changing Climate
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics - Tropical Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Sarah Gunter holds a faculty appointment at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in the National School of Tropical Medicine, where she also directs the Infectious Disease Epidemiology laboratory. Her research focuses on the emergence of vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases, as well as developing innovative tools to control their transmission.
Community-Driven Science for Action: Mapping Urban Heat Islands in Our Region
Senior Program Manager, Climate Equity and Resilience
Houston Advanced Research Center
Meredith Jennings is a Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P) through the Association of Climate Change Officers. At HARC, she leads program management, technical analysis, and stakeholder engagement for key initiatives, including the City of Houston Climate Action Plan, the Houston Harris Heat Watch program, and local Inflation Reduction Act projects. Jennings received her Ph.D. in Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of Miami.
Extreme Heat and Disease Burden Projections: A Case Study in Harris County, TX
Research Scientist, Air Quality
Houston Advanced Research Center
Ebrahim Eslami investigates the impacts of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and hurricanes, on public health and community resilience. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Houston and employs advanced data analysis and modeling techniques to inform strategic interventions. His work, in collaboration with local governments, community stakeholders, and national organizations, aims to protect vulnerable populations in Houston from the growing challenges of climate variability.
Development of System-Based Digital Decision Support (“Pocket Ark”) for Post-Flood Enhanced Response Coordination and Worker Safety
Assistant Professor
University of Texas School of Public Health
William Perkison directs the UT School of Public Health Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency program and co-directs the UTHealth Employee Health Department. His current research focuses on disaster response and diabetes prevention, including creating a disaster response e-learning tool for construction workers in flood-affected areas. He has extensive experience in occupational health, disaster response, and clinical practice, including leading disaster response efforts during Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Harvey.
Hurricane Beryl on Texas Barrier Islands: Role of Remote Sensing in Climate Impacts
Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
University of Houston
Shuhab Khan is a fellow of the Geological Society of America. His research interests include utilizing remote sensing and geospatial modeling to address fundamental questions across various geological and environmental disciplines. Khan received his Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Texas-Dallas.