"Environmental Justice: COVID-19 and Systemic Racism in the US" by Dr. Montoya, MS, PhD '99 (Mountain Time)
Event Details
07:00PM - 08:15PM
In 2020, we learned that Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people in the US are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts include higher mortality rates, economic fallout, and educational setbacks. What has led to this sobering reality is a complex mix of factors too extensive to cover in comprehensively in one presentation, so this discussion will focus on the environmental dynamics. Dr. Montoya will discuss the indoor air quality research she conducted in Latinx and Navajo communities in the US, which helps explain the impact of COVID-19 on these groups. Equally important to understand is why such science was not leveraged to prevent the harm experienced by these communities. Dr. Montoya will close with a hopeful perspective on how US scientists are now taking steps to ensure similar tragedies do not befall any community in the future.
Dr. Lupita D. Montoya is a Research Affiliate in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at CU Boulder. She holds a BS degree with honors in Engineering Mechanics from California State University Northridge. Dr. Montoya earned a MS degree in Mechanical Engineering and PhD in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and is the first Chicana to earn a PhD in Environmental Engineering at Stanford.
