FOCUS
Sam is dedicated to developing innovative frameworks that blend lived experience, situated knowledge, and data science to operationalize equitable water and disaster infrastructure. Her current research aims to quantify the impact of flooding on unhoused populations and to understand perspectives on green stormwater infrastructure and nature-based solutions. She also works on evaluating water and sanitation policies through a justice-oriented lens with a focus on their implications for low-income individuals and racial minorities. By co-creating knowledge with communities and utilizing mixed-method, participatory techniques in her research, Sam hopes to contribute to more inclusive and effective policies for disaster and water management that address the needs of underserved populations in the United States and worldwide.
MORE ABOUT SAM
Sam grew up in a rural part of Bengaluru, India, where she was deeply influenced by traditional relationships with the Earth. As a first-generation immigrant to the United States living with invisible disabilities, Sam is passionate about integrating traditional knowledge with technical expertise for a holistic perspective of environmental justice.
