This post was originally published by Anna Patterson on November 24, 2017. As COVID-19 has limited much of our activity and movement to our homes, many people are turning to the outdoors for a bit of refuge. Exploring the importance of green spaces- particularly on public health- this piece is once again relevant. Planning for Preventative Health Urban green space provides a place to escape … Continue reading From the Archives: Got Green Space?
By Doug Bright Collectively, we’re doing a lot less moving these days. For many, including the UNC Chapel Hill community, the ongoing pandemic means that virtual meetings have replaced our daily commutes. Driven by both personal concern and government action in the form of stay-at-home orders, our non-essential trips have also been slashed in order to reduce interpersonal contact and infection rates. Some services, activities, … Continue reading Getting Around Getting Around: A Pandemic’s Impacts on Transportation
By Evan King When speaking about the role of public transportation in modern society, I often bring up this article published by the Foundation for Economic Education. In it, the author essentially argues that the proliferation of telecommuting has removed all need for public transportation. If you take this line of thought to its logical, extreme conclusion, then we must be on an unstoppable trajectory … Continue reading COVID-19 and Our Futures
By Lizzie Tong In the decades to come, cities must grapple with a myriad of challenges – climate change, increasing population density, rising inequality – and develop mitigation strategies through smart urban design. Cities around the world, including Singapore, Vienna, and Shenzhen, have turned to greenspace as a way to address these concerns and improve overall quality of life for its citizens. Greenspace can mitigate … Continue reading Senior Honors Thesis: Greenspace and Health
By Emily Gvino According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce 25% more trash than usual between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, generating 1 million tons more waste every week during this time frame[1]. However, the life cycle of this country’s waste poses a critical issue throughout the year. Urban planners, public works departments, and local officials are already dealing with the downstream impacts of … Continue reading Saving Patients but Harming the Planet? Hospitals as Stewards of the Trash Crisis
Two DCRP students, Emily Paul and Leah Campbell, are working on a group project examining stunting in children under the age of 5 in Peru, a project at the nexus of climate change and health. Continue reading DCRP Students Work on Interdisciplinary Research at the Nexus of Climate Change and Health
Robert Simmons, pictured above, was a New Bern resident who lost most of his belongings in the storm. He is seen here evacuating with his kitten named Survivor, leaving his father who chose to stay behind. Robert is one of many New Bern residents whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Florence, which was responsible for more than $100 million damages estimated by September 23rd.1 North … Continue reading Post-Florence: Where do we go from here?
Drive through any town in the United States and you will likely notice that landscapes change from stately brick houses and white picket fences to depressed shotgun houses and chain link fences. What you won’t notice? As you drive toward the city center and home values decrease, a skyrocketing increase in heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure is taking place. In fact, … Continue reading A Prescription for Planning
Zombies have become a fixture in literary and cinematic culture over the past century. The list of on-screen zombie productions is extensive, ranging from White Zombie in 1932 and Night of the Living Dead in 1968, to this year’s Patient Z and dozens of others in between. In 2016, Netflix boasted a buffet of 19 zombie-themed shows to satiate their viewers’ appetite for the undead. … Continue reading Zombie Preparedness: A Communication Strategy for Emergency Preparedness
The Planner’s toolbox is being modified constantly by laws passed and policies enacted at every level of government. Being aware of existing laws, as well as proposed legislation, is important for planners, communities, and advocates working throughout the state. Here’s a sample of the planning-related bills currently under consideration at the state level in the North Carolina General Assembly: House Bill 3 / Senate Bill 34: … Continue reading Current Planning-Related Legislation in the North Carolina General Assembly
