Krista McGuire is an associate professor in the Department of Biology. 

Project title: “Green infrastructure in Pacific Northwest Cities as a Mechanism for Climate Change Resilience”

Green infrastructure has the potential to buffer adverse effects of drought, severe storms, and heat stress. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change because soil and vegetated landscapes have been replaced with impermeable surfaces such as asphalt and concrete. This project will use surveys, experimentation, and mathematical modeling to integrate three key biological aspects of green infrastructure—plants, soils, and microbes—into an urban resilience model. Eugene and Portland, in which major green infrastructure initiatives have been established, will be the focal cities. The goal is to use multidisciplinary methods to enhance urban resilience to climate change in the Pacific Northwest.