Dr. Kirsten Schwarz

Biography

Kirsten Schwarz is an urban ecologist whose work focuses on the interface between the environment, equity, and health. Her research examines environmental hazards, amenities in cities, and their distributional impacts on minoritized communities. She has studied the biogeophysical and social variables that relate to the spatial patterning of lead in contaminated soils. Her work on urban tree canopy has revealed significant patterns related to income, as well as the historical legacies impacting this relationship. Dr. Schwarz has led an interdisciplinary team in creating community-engaged green infrastructure designs that integrate participatory methods to develop place-based solutions, aiming to realize desired ecosystem services. Her expertise in science communication promotes community engagement and co-production of scientific knowledge. She is recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as a Fellow of the Leshner Leadership Institute for Public Engagement in Science and Technology. Her research has received funding from the National Science Foundation, AAAS, and the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dr. Schwarz holds a BA in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Rutgers University. She previously served as an Associate Professor in Environmental Science at Northern Kentucky University, where she directed the Ecological Stewardship Institute.

Research Interests