Community-Based Research Symposium: Addressing Environmental & Public Health Challenges

The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | May 19–20, 2026

Free & Open to the Public

About the Symposium

Community-based research is essential for understanding and addressing challenges that reflect real community needs. For example, rapid urban growth and increasing weather extremes are already straining communities, and these pressures are expected to intensify in the years ahead. This in-person symposium will bring together university researchers and students, community organizations and members, government entities, industry representatives, and other interested stakeholders to explore the opportunities and benefits of Community-based research in Texas and beyond.

Research Themes

Air • Water • Climate • Energy • Food • Health • Land Use

Goals

1. Share and promote best practices, lessons learned, and resources for community-based research
2. Foster networking, collaborations, and new research opportunities
3. Build perspective and capacity for community-based research

Keynote Speakers

History of Community Resilience in East Austin
Susana Almanza
Founding Member and Executive Director
PODER, People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources

Learn how East Austin communities have organized, advocated, and built resilience in response to environmental and public health challenges.

Alaskan Coastal Communities and Ecosystems
Kenneth Dunton
Professor and Department Chair, Marine Science
The University of Texas at Austin

Learn how changing Arctic coasts affect communities, ecosystems, and food webs in Alaska.

Building Climate Resilience in Austin
Marc Coudert
Climate Resilience and Adaptation Manager
City of Austin Climate Action & Resilience

Discover how Austin is addressing heat, flooding, and wildfire through data-driven, community-based resilience planning.

Parking for Day 1 – May 19

Parking will be available at Brazos Garage, 210 E. MLK Blvd. When you enter the garage, please pull a parking ticket. We will validate your ticket when you arrive at the symposium so parking will be free. If you’re getting dropped off, we recommend getting dropped off at the Littlefield Fountain (201 W 21st St, Austin, TX 78705).

Agenda for Day 1 – May 19

Location: The University of Texas at Austin, William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center (WCP), Room 2.302 (2nd floor).

Day 1 (Tuesday, May 19) kicks off on the University of Texas at Austin campus with a dynamic, in-person symposium featuring keynote speakers, a thought-provoking panel discussion, lightning talks, and interactive breakout sessions.

Agenda can be found here.

Agenda for Field Trip on Day 2 – May 20

Join us on Day 2 (Wednesday, May 20), from 8:30 AM–1:00 PM for a guided half-day field experience in East Austin, where participants will explore community resilience in action firsthand, engage with local initiatives and leaders, and gain a deeper understanding of the neighborhood-based efforts shaping a more resilient and connected community.

During the field trip, we will visit four sites connected to East Austin’s environmental history, community advocacy, oral histories, and research-to-action efforts: the Holly Street Power Plant, Downs Field, Govalle Neighborhood Park, and Boggy Creek. Together, these sites offer a place-based look at the histories, resilience, and ongoing work shaping this part of Austin.

For More Information

Contact: Chase Cobb (chase.cobb@austin.utexas.edu), Jay Banner (banner@jsg.utexas.edu)

Presented By

Sponsored By