Jayajit Chakraborty
· Professor & Mellichamp Chair in Racial Environmental JusticeVerifiedUniversity of California, Santa Barbara · Environmental Science and Management
Active 1988–2026
About
Jayajit Chakraborty is a Professor and Mellichamp Endowed Chair in Racial Environmental Justice at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography and an M.S. in Urban & Regional Planning, both from the University of Iowa. His research encompasses a wide range of concerns related to the human dimensions of climate and environmental change, with a particular emphasis on environmental justice and community vulnerability to hazards, risks, and disasters. His scholarly work also addresses climate justice, disability justice, food security, and health equity, examining environmental and social inequalities across multiple geographic scales in the US, US-Mexico border, Australia, and India.
Research topics
- Sociology
- Social Science
- Political Science
- Gerontology
- Geography
- Demography
- Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Computer Security
- Environmental health
- Economics
- Psychology
- Economic growth
- Mathematics
- Nursing
- Social psychology
- Environmental ethics
- Ecology
- Environmental planning
- Statistics
- Socioeconomics
- Environmental resource management
- Law
Selected publications
International Journal of Wildland Fire · 2026-03-26
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingBackground Although previous studies have documented social inequalities in the distribution of wildfires and their adverse impacts, spatial statistical approaches have rarely been applied to examine social vulnerability to wildfire risk. Aims We demonstrate how local indicators of spatial association (LISA) can be implemented to identify census tracts in the US where high wildfire risk and high social vulnerability intersect spatially and key characteristics of social vulnerability in these locations. Methods Tracts are classified into relevant spatial clusters based on bivariate LISA to analyze the relationship between share of properties at risk of wildfire (2022) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Social Vulnerability Index (2022), the ‘High–High’ cluster representing tracts at the intersection of high wildfire risk and high social vulnerability. Key results High–High tracts are located mainly in western and southern states, and characterized by disproportionately higher percentages of American Indian and Hispanic indviduals and mobile homes. Conclusions Several socially vulnerable groups are significantly over-represented in areas vulnerable to wildfire risk and should be prioritized for further investigation and mitigation. Implications Bivariate LISA can provide important place-based insights on the intersection of wildfire risk and social vulnerability, and inform spatially precise interventions that address both biophysical and social dimensions of wildfires.
Social disparities in extreme heat days across U.S. public schools
SSM - Population Health · 2025-06-26
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingAlthough children are highly vulnerable to higher temperatures and spend significant portions of their time at school, extreme heat events at school locations have not been adequately examined in previous research on social inequalities in the distribution and impacts of heat exposure. We address this gap by conducting the first nationwide study of sociodemographic disparities in extremely hot days at U.S. public schools. Annual frequency of extreme heat days at school locations is measured using both absolute (>90°F) and relative (> local 95th percentile) temperature-based thresholds, and linked to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other relevant characteristics of students and schools in the conterminous U.S. Results indicate that racial/ethnic minority students and those eligible for free/reduced lunch are significantly overrepresented in schools with the highest frequency of extreme heat days (top 20% nationally) compared to White and non-eligible students, respectively, based on the absolute temperature threshold. Similar racial/ethnic disparities are observed in the top 20% of schools based on the relative temperature threshold, with the exception of Black and Asian students. Multivariable models that control for spatial clustering and contextual factors also reveal racial/ethnic disparities, with significantly higher frequencies of extreme heat days at schools serving Hispanic and American Indian students, regardless of the temperature threshold utilized. These results highlight the urgent need to include school children in future research on social disparities in heat exposure, conduct more detailed investigations in other regions, states, and nations, and formulate interventions and policies that provide equitable protection from extreme heat. • Social disparities in school children’s extreme heat exposure are understudied. • First national study of annual frequency of extreme heat days across U.S schools. • Racial/ethnic minority students overrepresented in schools with highest heat days. • Disparities observed with both absolute and relative temperature thresholds. • Schools with higher % of Hispanic and American Indian students face greater risk.
Assessing Food Pantry Usage and Distance to a Food Pantry in El Paso County, Texas
International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research · 2025-07-11
articleOpen accessFood pantries play an important role in meeting the basic food needs of many United States households. Surprisingly, recent studies have found that spatial factors are not predictors of food pantry usage. This article examines whether household distance to a food pantry acts as a barrier to pantry usage in El Paso County, Texas. Using primary survey data and multivariable generalized estimating equations, the authors analyze the relationship between various household distance measures and food pantry utilization. The results show that multiple continuous measures of household distance to the nearest pantry are negatively related to food pantry usage, with households living within one mile (via the road network) being more likely to use a food pantry. These findings can guide insights for food assistance providers and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of establishing food pantry sites in areas with the greatest need and potential for collective impact.
2025-11-20 · 1 citations
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingUnderstanding Interpersonal Violence Incidence in a U.S.–Mexico Border Community
Journal of Forensic Nursing · 2025-02-12 · 1 citations
articleBACKGROUND: Interpersonal violence (IV) is a global pandemic. Geographic borders represent unique spaces that are often shaped by cultural clashes, economic inequality, and jurisdictional complexities. Given the intricate social dynamics along the U.S.-Mexico border, this region provides a compelling yet understudied setting to advance research on the geographic dimensions of IV. However, communities situated alongside the U.S.-Mexico border are noticeably absent from this body of research, which is problematic as these regions often face unique social and structural challenges. METHOD: This retrospective study examined the spatial distribution of a subset of zip code data that represented IV incidences between 2017 and 2022 in the El Paso, Texas region. The source of the IV data was medical records of patients that were seen by sexual assault nurse examiners for IV-related injuries at a Level 1 trauma center. RESULTS: The retrospective study included 384 IV incidents. In terms of IV survivors' characteristics, the mean age of trauma survivors was 26 years (SD = 14 years), with the majority in the 25- to 59-year age range (39.4%). Most of the survivors were identified as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish (78.2%). The findings illustrate the uneven spatial distribution of IV incidence rates in El Paso, emphasizing the presence of high-risk zones within the inner city. CONCLUSION: This study examined the spatial distribution and characteristics of IV incidents in the El Paso region. The combination of spatial analysis, hotspot identification, and establishment overlay mapping offers a holistic perspective on the spatial dynamics of IV. The identification of hotspots and exploration of regions with high IV occurrence contribute to actionable insights for the development and implementation of targeted interventions. By understanding IV occurrence within the community, forensic nurses can target trauma survivor prevention efforts and integrate education and resources for nurses caring for survivors in emergency situations. In addition, forensic nurses become proactive agents of change, tackling IV at its source with targeted recognition, response, and safety protocols.
Environmental Justice · 2025-09-29
article1st authorCorrespondingWhile recent studies have drawn attention to the environmental justice implications of specific hazards and pollution sources for inhabitants of public housing developments (PHDs), previous research has not examined whether PHD residents are disproportionately exposed to the cumulative impacts of multiple environmental stressors. We address this gap by conducting the first systematic, national-scale analysis of the relationship between cumulative environmental burdens and PHD residency, using a novel spatial statistical approach for assessing cumulative impacts. We seek to determine whether: (1) PHD units and residents, and (2) socially disadvantaged households residing in PHDs, are significantly overrepresented in census tracts with higher cumulative burdens in the continental U.S. Our study utilizes environmental indicators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EJScreen tool (2022), and PHD-related data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (December 31, 2022). We implement a spatial cluster analysis technique to designate hot (and cold) spots of tracts with significantly higher (and lower) cumulative burdens compared to other tracts. Results indicate that both PHD units and residents are disproportionately located in hot spot areas, compared to non-PHD housing units and population. For people residing in PHDs, we found Black, Hispanic, and extremely low-income households to be overrepresented in hot spot tracts. Our findings highlight the necessity to reverse these unequal patterns for PHDs, as well as illustrate how emerging spatial statistical approaches can contribute to measuring cumulative impacts and detecting overburdened communities that require policy intervention.
Scientific Reports · 2024-07-24 · 5 citations
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingPrevious research on social disparities in heat exposure has not examined heatwave frequency or economic damage at the local or neighborhood level. Additionally, most US studies have focused on specific cities or regions, and few national-scale studies encompassing both urban and rural areas have been conducted. These gaps are addressed here by analyzing racial/ethnic disparities in the distribution of annual heatwave frequency and expected economic losses from heatwave occurrence in the contiguous US. Census tract-level data on annualized heatwave frequency and expected loss from the FEMA's National Risk Index are linked to relevant variables from the American Community Survey. Results indicate that all racial/ethnic minority groups except non-Hispanic Black are significantly overrepresented in neighborhoods with greater annual heatwave frequency (top 10% nationally), and all minority groups are overrepresented in neighborhoods with greater total expected annual loss from heatwaves, compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Multivariable models that control for spatial clustering, climate zone, and relevant socio-demographic factors reveal similar racial/ethnic disparities, and suggest significantly greater heatwave frequency and economic losses in neighborhoods with higher percentages of Hispanics and American Indians. These findings represent an important starting point for more detailed investigations on the adverse impacts of heatwaves for US minority populations and formulating appropriate policy interventions.
Environmental Justice · 2024-04-30 · 3 citations
article1st authorCorrespondingThis article demonstrates how local indicators of spatial association (LISA) can be applied to advance distributive environmental justice analysis of air pollution. It presents a case study that compares the spatial distributions of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and social vulnerability at the neighborhood (census tract) level in the continental United States, to investigate the following questions: (1) Where does high ambient PM 2.5 pollution and high social vulnerability spatially coincide? (2) What are the dominant themes and indicators of social vulnerability in these places? The bivariate local Moran’s I statistic is used to classify tracts into relevant spatial clusters for visualizing the relationship between annual average PM 2.5 concentrations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index. The “High–High” cluster represents tracts at the convergence of high PM 2.5 concentrations and high social vulnerability. Results indicate that High–High tracts are located mainly in densely populated urban areas and more populous states and contain almost 43 million people. Socioeconomic status and minority status/language are the dominant themes of social vulnerability for tracts in this cluster. The most prominent individual indicators that distinguish High–High tracts from others include limited English language proficiency, crowding, zero-vehicle households, minority status, no high school diploma, and below poverty level. Findings illustrate how bivariate LISA can detect priority locations where interventions can address both physical and social aspects of vulnerability to air pollution, as well as clarify which vulnerable groups should be prioritized for further investigation and mitigation.
Heatwave frequency and disability status: Thermal inequities in the U.S. South
Disability and health journal · 2024-06-24 · 12 citations
article1st authorCorrespondingThe Lancet Planetary Health · 2024 · 42 citations
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Political Science
Globally, more than 1 billion people with disabilities are disproportionately and differentially at risk from the climate crisis. Yet there is a notable absence of climate policy, programming, and research at the intersection of disability and climate change. Advancing climate justice urgently requires accelerated disability-inclusive climate action. We present pivotal research recommendations and guidance to advance disability-inclusive climate research and responses identified by a global interdisciplinary group of experts in disability, climate change, sustainable development, public health, environmental justice, humanitarianism, gender, Indigeneity, mental health, law, and planetary health. Climate-resilient development is a framework for enabling universal sustainable development. Advancing inclusive climate-resilient development requires a disability human rights approach that deepens understanding of how societal choices and actions-characterised by meaningful participation, inclusion, knowledge diversity in decision making, and co-design by and with people with disabilities and their representative organisations-build collective climate resilience benefiting disability communities and society at large while advancing planetary health.
Recent grants
NSF · $31k · 2014–2016
NSF · $181k · 2011–2015
NSF · $30k · 2021–2022
Frequent coauthors
- 34 shared
Sara E. Grineski
University of Utah
- 33 shared
Timothy W. Collins
University of Utah
- 24 shared
Juliana Maantay
- 21 shared
Jean D. Brender
Texas A&M University
- 9 shared
Marilyn Montgomery
- 9 shared
Pratyusha Basu
- 8 shared
Jacob J. Aun
The University of Texas at El Paso
- 7 shared
Marc P. Armstrong
University of Iowa
Awards & honors
- AAG E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Award
- University of Texas System Faculty STARs Award
- NSF Geospatial Fellowship for Advancing COVID-19 Research an…
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