Professor Dr. Isabel Rivera Collazo

Biography

Isabel Rivera-Collazo is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego, with a focus on biological and ecological human adaptations to climate change. She directs the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Human Ecology Laboratory and integrates earth sciences, archaeology, and marine ecology in her work to understand social vulnerability to climate change, particularly in relation to food and habitat security in coastal marine areas. Her research includes the DUNAS project, which focuses on sand dune restoration and cultural heritage to foster community resilience in the face of climate change. Rivera-Collazo collaborates with Borikua/Taino communities in Puerto Rico and the Tongva community of Catalina Island, California, emphasizing the importance of horizontal partnerships, citizen science, and communal archaeology. She also leads a project with the California State Historic Preservation Office to create the California Heritage Climate Vulnerability Index, which assesses multiple definitions of site importance and prioritizes actions to mitigate climate impacts on heritage sites. A founding member of the UCSD Climate Action Lab, she has received several accolades including the Climate Adaptation Leader Award in 2020 and the UCSD Integrity Award.

Research Interests

Awards