As communities strive for resilience to the intensifying impacts of climate change through mitigation and adaptation, understanding the associated processes and outcomes is more important than ever if we are to support such efforts. The Community Adaptation & Resilience Research Unit (CAR-RU) contributes to this through research and community outreach. How are adaptation processes governed and what are their consequences? Where do vulnerabilities intersect and how do they compound impacts and outcomes? What are the community-led adaptations and planning tools? How can we understand the role of land and land use planning in adaptation and the ways it intersects with embedded power structures and institutions? These are some of the questions that our team addresses.
Research Team
 | Dr. Anuradha Mukherji, Core Faculty & Researcher Details about Dr. Mukherji’s interests can be found under the menu tab Biography and information about her research projects under Research. |
 | Isabella (Bella) Sardina, Graduate Student Researcher (2023-2024) Bella Sardina joined the NOAA RISA project “Intended and unintended consequences of buyout program” as a Graduate Student Researcher from Fall 2023 through Spring 2024. Bella’s interests – “I am a senior in the Community and Regional Planning program at ECU. Additionally, I am currently enrolled as a graduate student in the first class of the ECU Urban Planning Accelerated Master’s program. In terms of research, I am particularly interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the complex issue of equitable and affordable housing. I am also driven to explore the intricate dynamics between urban design and its effects on individuals and their communities, taking into account social cohesion, mental health, and overall quality-of-life aspects. Professionally, I hope to gain valuable experience in community development in Washington D.C. while completing my Master’s program online. However, my ultimate career goal is to come back home and serve eastern NC. Growing up in a rural town in NC has instilled in me a deep sense of purpose to contribute to the development and improvement of my region.” |
 | Nelson Adeniji, Graduate Student Researcher (2021-2023) Nelson Adeniji worked as a Graduate Research Assistant on a NOAA funded project “Preparing for, responding to, and mitigating compound coastal water hazards for resilient rural communities” from Fall 2021 to Spring 2023. He has also contributed to the project “Intended and unintended consequences of buyout programs” (also funded by NOAA) during Spring and Summer 2023. Nelson’s interests – “My research interests lie at the intersection of disaster management, exploring novel approaches for mitigating the impacts of disasters. Specifically, I am interested in non-structural mitigation strategies such as property acquisition encompassing community-driven initiatives, policy interventions, and effective risk deduction. To comprehensively understand these complex phenomena, I advocate for a mixed-methodological approach, amalgamating qualitative and quantitative methods. Furthermore, I am keen on harnessing geospatial data analytics to unravel spatial patterns, identify high-risk areas, and inform evidence-based decision-making. I aim to contribute to developing sustainable disaster mitigation strategies that safeguard communities and foster resilience.“ |