Dr. Stephanie Piper is a Research Associate focusing on Climate and Equity. She works on projects that aim to provide benefits and protection from climate change to all communities, such as organizing urban tree plantings, and promoting how trees in urban areas reduce heat and foster community resilience. Dr. Piper is also involved in community engagement projects, managing community outreach and interviews, and identifying how best to incorporate community priorities in scientific research. Her research interests include urban ecology, community engagement, science policy, and applying research to improve the environment and quality of life of communities.
Before joining HARC, Dr. Piper was a Science Policy Fellow through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Gulf Research Program. She recently completed her PhD in Plant Biology at the University of California, Riverside, where her research focused on patterns and effects of air pollution within cities, and how it travels to natural areas.
Dr. Piper earned a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she studied species diversity of the urban forest.
Authored Publications and Related Projects
Andrews, H. M., Krichels, A. H., Homyak, P. M., Piper, S., Aronson, E. L., Botthoff, J., Greene, A. C., Jenerette, G. D. (2023). Wetting-induced soil CO2 emission pulses are driven by interactions among soil temperature, carbon, and nitrogen limitation in the Colorado Desert. Global Change Biology, 29(11), pp. 3205-3220.
Piper, S. [UCR Science to Policy]. (2022, May 20). Stewards from the start: Science standards to better engage students [Video]. YouTube.