The following sources from the University of California, Davis, are available to talk with media about climate change impacts and solutions related to community resilience. 

More UC Davis climate change experts lists are available under the topic areas of water, wildfire and air quality, agriculture, wildlife, energy and transportation, and atmospheric sciences.

Climate adaptation and resilient construction

Michele Barbato is a structural engineering professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He also co-directs the UC Davis Climate Adaptation Research Center. His research is focused on developing sustainable and wildfire-resilient construction materials. He can also discuss wildfire risk assessment and mitigation, electric grid hardening, and other hazard mitigation strategies for earthquakes, hurricanes, wind and other climate-related challenges. Languages: English, Italian. Contact: mbarbato@ucdavis.edu

Urban design, rural communities and resilience

Jonathan London directs the Center for Regional Change and is an associate professor of Community and Regional Development. He can discuss issues regarding community resilience and environmental justice in rural communities, including access to drinking water. Contact:  jklondon@ucdavis.edu

Beth Rose Middleton is associate professor of Native American Studies. She can discuss rural environmental justice and indigenous analyses of climate change. Contact: 530-754-4802, brmiddleton@ucdavis.edu

Catherine Brinkley is an assistant professor of community and regional development in the Department of Human Ecology, a city planner and veterinarian. She can discuss how human, animal and environmental health is shared, how food systems impact greenhouse gas emissions, and community siting decisions for district energy. Contact: ckbrinkley@ucdavis.edu

Stephen Wheeler is a professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design in the Department of Human Ecology. He can discuss urban and regional planning, including climate change planning and sustainable development. Contact: 530-754-9332, smwheeler@ucdavis.edu

Claire Napawan is an associate professor of Landscape Architecture in the Department of Human Ecology and co-founder of Group Projects. She focuses on community resilience through participatory design. Her local resilience work includes #OurChangingClimate, which encourages youth climate engagement via social media, and the Alameda Creek Atlas, a proposal for the Resilient by Design Bay Area Challenge. Contact: 530-554-9540, ncnapawan@ucdavis.edu