This Weather, Climate, and Society (WCS) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) was hosted by the University of South Florida (USF) in summers 2023-2025. We had an exciting interdisciplinary program that focused on pairing each participant in a team with other WCS REU students and research mentors in the physical and social sciences. Other UG college levels could apply, but priority was given to rising sophomores. The teams conducted research on three topics of student choice related to Hazards, Hurricanes and Emergency Management, and Natural Disaster Risk Communication. In addition to an intensive 9-week mentored research experience, the program provided experiential learning, professional development workshops, trainings in social and physical research techniques, and interdisciplinary perspectives on social and physical aspects and impacts of severe weather and climate related disasters.
Submissions from 2025
Strengthening Disaster Workforce Communication: A Focus on the Latino Community in Hillsborough County, Florida, Ariana S. Albaladejo-Barreto, Ann Dai, Jude Ogden, Ratna Dougherty, and Elizabeth A. Dunn
Heat Exposure and Respiratory Illness in Orange County, Florida: Exploring Environmental Health Patterns, Vivika Arocho, Christopher Bernabe, MaKayla DeValia, Destiny Perez, Robin Ersing, and Beverly G. Ward
Information Sources and Government Trust Regarding Evacuation Decisions for Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Ayden Carver, Brooke Page, Cassandra O’Connor, and Jennifer Collins
From Silos to Synergy: Improving Healthcare and Disaster Relief Coordination After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Ann Dai, Jude Ogden, Ariana S. Albaladejo-Barreto, Ratna Dougherty, and Elizabeth A. Dunn
Hot Spots of Harm: Spatial Analysis of Respiratory Health and Pollution Exposure in Palm Beach County Agricultural Workers, MaKayla DeValia, Christopher Bernabe, and Robin Ersing
Addressing Misinformation During Severe Weather Events: Insights from Emergency Managers in Florida, Sam Minard, Cassandra O’Connor, Brooke Page, and Jennifer Collins
Strengthening the Hillsborough County COAD: A Conversation-Informed Framework for an Improved Disaster Response Network, Jude Ogden, Ariana Albaladejo-Barreto, Ann Dai, Ratna Dougherty, and Elizabeth Dunn
Analyzing Various Weather Risks for Florida’s Most Vulnerable Populations, Ethan Palmisano, Brooke Page, Cassandra O’Connor, and Jennifer Collins
Lost in Translation: An Analysis on how Florida’s Broadcast Meteorologists Navigate Bilingual Communication During Severe Weather, Daniella Streety, Cassandra O’Connor, Brooke Page, and Jennifer Collins
Submissions from 2024
Analyzing Vulnerable Census Tracts in Hillsborough County: Are They Disaster Ready?, Mariah Austin, Robin Ersing, and Beverly G. Ward
Mitigating the Effects of Excessive Heat in Hillsborough County's Vulnerable Neighborhoods, Paige Burchell, Robin Ersing, and Beverly Ward
Creative Placemaking for Productive Landscapes: Imagined Futures for Aaran’s Pond, M. Paige Garvin, Serena A. Echols, and E. Christian Wells
Interpretation of the Hurricane Ian cone forecast impact on evacuation decision making of individuals aged 55 and older, Jack Gulisano, Rashida Jones, Elizabeth Dunn, and Maria Paula Ibarcena Woll
Stormwater Infrastructure as a Socio-Ecological System: The Case of Aaran’s Pond, Cya Moore, Serena A. Echols, and E. Christian Wells
Characteristics of Vulnerability of Tampa Residents Proximate to Superfund Sites, Christian Muisener, Beverly G. Ward, and Robin Ersing
Hurricane Evacuation Capability of Older Adults in Pinellas County, Florida, Zion Powell, Elizabeth Dunn, Rashida Jones, and Maria Paula Ibarcena-Woll
Submissions from 2023
Observed Risk Perception and Evacuation Decision Making during Hurricane Ian, Anna Cecil, Elizabeth Dunn, Rashida Jones, and Jennifer Collins
Examining Nitrate Concentrations in Rainwater in the Marine Boundary Layer in St. Petersburg, Sam Irvine, Anson Kirsch, Ben Lloyd, Yasin Elshorbany, and James Ivey
Technology’s Impact on FEMA Relief After Hurricane Ian: Influence of Application Method on Aid Received in Lee County, Alex Pickus, Abby Schueler, Beverly Ward, and Robin Ersing
Evaluation of Income Disparities and Technology Usage After Disasters in Hillsborough County, Nicholas Salanitri, Rashida Jones, Elizabeth Dunn, and Jennifer Collins
FEMA Home Inspection Percentages During Hurricane Ian: Examining Racial Correlations By Zip Codes, Abby Schueler, Alex Pickus, Beverley Ward, and Robin Ersing
Risk Perception and Evacuation Decision Making Where a Hurricane is Projected to Make Landfall vs. In Surrounding Areas, Jason Young, Jennifer Collins, Elizabeth Dunn, and Rashida Jones
