Lidia Chiarati
I am a third-year PhD student in Modeling and Data Science at the University of Turin, working under the guidance of Professor Giuseppe Costa.
RESEARCH TOPIC OVERVIEW
My research centers on the impact of heatwaves on citizens’ health in the Campania Region, with a specific focus on the so-called “Terra dei Fuochi”, which is considered a particularly vulnerable area due to socio-economic inequalities. This collaborative research initiative involves partnerships with the epidemiological center SEPI (Servizio Sovrazonale di Epidemiologia), which has recently developed the Campanian Longitudinal Study (SLC), providing valuable health and census data. Additionally, the REMHI (REgional Models and geo-Hydrological Impacts) division of the CMCC (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici) contributes climate data and assists in developing specific indicators to measure the impact of extreme heat temperatures on health.
RESEARCH QUESTION
How does risk diversify based on social inequalities in the Campania Region during heatwaves?
The relationship between high temperatures and daily mortality will be analyzed by integrating high-resolution climate data from datasets with different spatial resolutions, daily mortality data, and socio-demographic and economic indicators available at the regional level.
CASE STUDY
Municipalities within census sections of the region will be used as unit of analysis to identify risk diversification in the context of the relationship between extreme temperatures and health.
The results will be valuable in identifying the risk to the Campanian population during heatwaves and supporting local decision-makers in implementing specific policies aimed at reducing the impacts of such phenomena on citizens' health.
DATA
a. Climate Data:
Very High Resolution REAnalysis for Italy VHR-REA_IT (CMCC – 2.2km), CERRA (Copernicus – 5.5km)
Period: 1991-2020
Indicators: Under literature review for identification, e.g., HEATcum, HSI, ATmax.
b. Health Data:
Daily Mortality (SLC)
Period: 1991-2020.
c. Socio-demographic and Economic Data (SLC)
Level: Individual or Municipal
Past experiences
I hold a bachelor's degree in Languages and Cultures for Tourism, a master's degree in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, and a Master of Research in Science and Management of Climate Change. My initial studies focused on environmental anthropology, political ecology, climate change, and the resulting socio-economic challenges.
During my bachelor's degree, I delved into investigating the cultural disparities among different communities concerning the relationship between nature and humans, along with the resulting actions. This exploration began with my fieldwork in the Vauban district (Freiburg). My M.A. thesis expanded on this study by incorporating international adaptation policies. It navigated the transition from the Anthropocene Theory to the Capitalocene Theory within a political-ecology perspective. Additionally, the thesis explored strategies implemented on both the global and local scales to address the ongoing environmental crisis. During this phase, I conducted ethnographic fieldwork on innovative and sustainable agricultural techniques employed by an educational farm in Turin.
Four years ago, I specialized in Science and Management of Climate Change at Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Master of Research). Throughout this program, I dedicated myself to refining my analytical skills in assessing socio-environmental impacts, vulnerability, and climate change risks. This involved delving into areas such as statistical analysis and programming, which were previously uncharted territories for me. This skill enhancement was further applied during my internship at Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), where I collaborated with the European Climate Adaptation Platform Climate-ADAPT.
Education
Master of Research
in Science and Management of Climate Change
September 2019
October 2020
Ca' Foscari University of Venice
The objective of the master's final report is to provide an overview of the knowledge platforms at European and supranational level and the evaluation of these, whether they are addressing users’ needs and feedback. For what concerns the methodology, the research aims to identify other knowledge platforms that, like Climate-ADAPT, have a specific target audience and the mandate to deliver knowledge for decision making in terms of climate change adaptation and other relevant subject matters. Furthermore, it describes how these platforms are evaluating the usefulness of the knowledge they provide, how users’ feedback is utilised to update and improve the performance of platforms. Finally, the work provides some recommendations on what could be implemented in adaptation knowledge platforms.
MA in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology
October 2016
September 2019
University of Turin
The thesis investigates anthropogenic climate change and its socio-economic and political consequences. Starting from the concepts of Anthropocene and Capitalocene, it explores national and supranational policies and bottom-up initiatives that can foster virtuous practices to tackle the current ecological crisis. Co-housing associations, sharing mobility, community gardens, urban agriculture, and educational farms are meaningful examples reported as bottom-up initiatives to meet citizens’ needs.
BA in Languages and Cultures for Tourism
October 2012
November 2016
University of Turin
The thesis deals with the relationship between man and nature, individual sensitivity, education, conditioning, intelligence and cultural transmission. These variables play a pivotal role in the construction of a sensitive consciousness to the environment. The arguments supported aim to frame the socio-environmental crisis related to climate change and its consequences.