Academics in California strive to help rural communities solve problems by using science and collaboration

City scientists in California are helping rural communities through partnerships and collaborations. "They aim to show how community engagement can break down urban–rural barriers in the United States," reports Virginia Gewin of Nature journal. "A growing number of scientists are pursuing community-based research partnerships. A common motivation, says Ashok Gadgil, an environmental scientist, is a sense of urgency in addressing environmental justice issues, especially in historically excluded communities. He added that some of the most satisfying projects use innovative technologies to find solutions to these communities' problems."

Ann Cheney, a medical anthropologist at the University of California "conducts health research in partnership with communities living near the Salton Sea, California’s largest saline lake, roughly 50 kilometers north of the Mexican border. In 2017, Cheney and her colleagues worked with researchers at the U.S. Border Health Commission to identify the health needs of Mexican immigrants in rural southern California," Gewin writes. "She has partnered with local groups to further analyze health impacts, particularly in undocumented immigrants. A major challenge, she says, is that many of these communities have grown resentful of urban academics who — backed by hefty grants — swoop in to collect their data but then fail to return with solutions."

Rural California has experienced "wildfires, flash floods, heatwaves and drought, and researchers are asking what they can do to help, says Diana Moanga, who manages the Spatial Analysis Center at Stanford University," Gewin explains. "Moanga has interviewed ranchers affected by dwindling water supplies, helped to create a risk index of mobile homes that are vulnerable to wildfires and assessed the potential for solar projects on tribal lands. Notably, she says, funders want to ensure that research results reach communities.

PRIME medical student are trained for unique
communities. (UC David photo)

"Perhaps the greatest health impact, however, comes from the the state's medical education program, known as PRIME, which aim to address California’s looming physician shortage, especially in rural areas, where only 9% of the state’s doctors practise. The programme has resulted in more than 750 medical-school graduates since 2004, and roughly 43% of those graduated from programmes based in or serving rural areas."aims to address California’s looming physician shortage, especially in rural areas, where only 9% of the state’s doctors practice," Gewin adds. "The program has resulted in more than 750 medical-school graduates since 2004, and roughly 43% of those graduated from programs based in or serving rural areas."