The mission of the Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (BSEC) is to contribute to climate action plans for Baltimore that also improve the well-being of those who live in historically underserved neighborhoods. This means co-designing with communities climate solutions that respond to community concerns. BSEC scientists work in close partnership with Baltimore residents to guide the scientific questions being asked. As data is gathered and findings are made, the work continuously evolves in response to community needs and input.
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BSEC collects a variety of observations across the city. These observations allow us to analyze climate change dynamics in Baltimore City at the city and neighborhood scale to understand issues such as urban heat island, urban flooding, and air pollution.
Learn MoreCoastal-Urban-Rural Atmospheric Gradient Experiment (CoURAGE)
Understanding the mechanisms governing the urban atmospheric environment is critical for informing urban populations regarding the impacts of climate change and associated mitigation and adaptation measures.
How Johns Hopkins Scientists and Neighborhood Groups Model Climate Change in Baltimore
Zaitchik and his graduate assistant, Ali Eyni, prepared to ride bicycles on a 17-mile loop of the city, measuring maximum temperatures at the height of a blistering heat wave to record temperature variations between neighborhoods with little tree canopy and those with better tree cover and more green spaces.
BSEC creates data bank of Baltimore’s environmental health
The Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (BSEC) brings together scientists, researchers and neighbors to take a deep dive into the ecological health of the city.
June was one of Baltimore’s warmest on record and the 100-degree days aren’t letting up in July
The goal of the project, called the Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative, is to inform the city’s climate change planning in the years ahead.
What will it take to make Baltimore a climate-resilient, 21st-century city?
A Johns Hopkins climate scientist set out to study the heat island effect. Now, with millions in federal funding, he’s putting neighborhood concerns at the heart of a five-year, $25 million project on climate change.
Urban Climate Lab Makes Holistic Appraisal of Resilience
The Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative will integrate environmental, health and community response data to drive potential climate solutions that support equity and resilience.
