Spatialising the interactions between people, animals, volcanic hazard and local perceptions & responses in Mexico ..
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Geography
Abstract
Spatialising the interactions between people, animals, volcanic hazard and local perceptions and responses in Mexico - are there context-specific differences between urban and rural sites at risk from Popocatepetl volcano?
This research will assess the context-specific, spatial impacts that animals and animal-keeping
exert upon people's perceptions of, and responses to, continuous volcanic hazards. A comparison
will be made between urban and rural sites at risk from Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico.
Semi-structured group interviews, participatory hazard mapping, and a georeferenced household
survey will be used to ask questions about animals, animal-keeping, chronic volcanic hazard
impacts and risk perceptions.
Multivariate spatial analysis of household survey and participatory hazard mapping data, alongside
physical hazard and census socioeconomic data, will be used to identify key spatial relationships
related to the 'animal factor', that may be utilised to target local volcanic risk reduction approaches
for the future. Local knowledges about hazards will be disseminated back to observatory
institutions, to further the scientific understanding of continuous volcanic hazard impacts. Results
will also be disseminated back to studied communities via education initiatives, to enable contextrelevant
risk reduction.
This research will assess the context-specific, spatial impacts that animals and animal-keeping
exert upon people's perceptions of, and responses to, continuous volcanic hazards. A comparison
will be made between urban and rural sites at risk from Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico.
Semi-structured group interviews, participatory hazard mapping, and a georeferenced household
survey will be used to ask questions about animals, animal-keeping, chronic volcanic hazard
impacts and risk perceptions.
Multivariate spatial analysis of household survey and participatory hazard mapping data, alongside
physical hazard and census socioeconomic data, will be used to identify key spatial relationships
related to the 'animal factor', that may be utilised to target local volcanic risk reduction approaches
for the future. Local knowledges about hazards will be disseminated back to observatory
institutions, to further the scientific understanding of continuous volcanic hazard impacts. Results
will also be disseminated back to studied communities via education initiatives, to enable contextrelevant
risk reduction.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| David Demeritt (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Mihaiela Swift (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/S007229/1 | 01/10/2019 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 1774441 | Studentship | NE/S007229/1 | 01/10/2016 | 12/08/2024 | Mihaiela Swift |
| Description | Cultural Geography outreach activity, Mexico City, Feb 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered cultural geography classes for secondary school students in Mexico City, in collaboration with their geography teacher |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | DIalogue Den debate at NHM, Sept 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Designed and led debates related to this research project, with small groups of the general public in the 'Dialogue Den' of the NHM's large annual public outreach event in Sept 2018. The theme of the debate was "We should evacuate animals as well as people from disaster zones". Small groups of 4-8 people were given some background information and led through scenario debates that gradually built upon this theme during 30-45minute blocks. After each scenario they were asked to answer along a small Likert scale whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement, for each scenario debated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | EU Parlimentarium Brussels - European night of the researcher event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Volcanic hazards public education outreach at Brussels' EU Parlimentarium museum, throughout their 2-day, open public event: "Science is Wonder-ful!" in Sept 2017. Including the use of 3D-printed volcano model to simulate different eruption styles, and educate the public about volcanic hazard and risks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | NHM Paris presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation given about the background and methodologies of this doctoral research, to Masters students at the Muesum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Followed by questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | NHM Tring public outreach event 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Volcanic hazards public education outreach at NHM Tring in Sept 2017, throughout the NHM's largest annual outreach event. Including the use of 3D-printed volcano model to simulate different eruption styles, and educate the public about volcanic hazard and risks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Outreach in secondary schools in Amecameca, Mexico, May 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Volcanic hazards and risks educational outreach activities for multiple classes of secondary school children, in two schools in Amecameca, Mexico, who are at risk from Popocatepetl volcano. Including the use of inverse-3D-printed models of Popocatepetl as a mold to make accurate plaster models of the volcano with the children, to highlight the local geography and topography, potential for volcanic hazard exposure, and then using other household liquids to simulate different eruption outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Participation in NHM London's 'Women in Science' Friday Late event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Was member of 3-person team running a 'Women In Volcanology' outreach table at the Natural History Museum, for their Friday Late event on 28/02/2020. Members of the public attended our stand where we discussed our research, as well as wider topics relevant to volcanology and gender issues in STEM |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation to undergrad students on 2018 UNAM geog field trip |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk given out in the field to primarily undergraduate students from UNAM, Mexico's Geography Institute whilst they were on their annual Risk and Disasters fieldwork trip. The background and methods of this research were explained, followed by questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |