GSVS student Alannah Bell to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in April.

In tandem with her Capstone thesis, Alannah Bell (GSVS '23) has been conducting research on the housing crisis, floodplain maps, and local governance in Charlottesville, VA to analyze "the intersectionality of both the housing and climate crises through the lens of a development ethics case and participatory action research techniques to produce community-based policy proposals" (Bell). In exchanging emails, Alannah explains that her current research has branched out of the work that she has completed over the past year with Professor James Groves of the UVA Engineering Department. "It uses a recent timeline of floodplain development and floodplain map revision that have affected areas, active collaboration with the Charlottesville community, and comparative studies on best local governance practices to inform a policy proposal to present to local authorities. Ultimately, the hope is that this project will address ongoing environmental injustices, empower an active citizzenry, and protect vulnerable residents from unethical development!"

Alannah recently received two grants – the Equity and Environment Fund from UVA's Committee on Sustainability & the Spring Scholars Research Grant from UVA's College Council. 

In April, Alannah will be presenting her research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) Eau Claire.

Read her full abstract here!