The Department of Geography and Geosciences and the Health and Society Program are delighted to host Professor Richard Sadler for a guest seminar on Tuesday, November 11, 10:00–11:30AM in Old Mill 325 (John Dewey Lounge). 

Presentation title: What Happens in the 10 Years Following a State Government-Caused Environmental Injustice?  Flint’s Progress Since Its Water Crisis

The Flint Water Crisis was the result of decades of deliberate disinvestment and state government ineptitude. In this talk, Professor Richard Sadler will discuss how the crisis unfolded, and how his research—examining environmental exposures, neighborhood conditions, and blood lead levels—revealed its scale. He will also address what has changed in Flint since then, including the massive new investments in the city that have brought hope in the wake of catastrophe.

Professor Richard Sadler is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Michigan State University who engages in public health research in Flint. He earned a BSc in Environmental Science and Planning from the University of Michigan-Flint and a PhD in Geography from the University of Western Ontario. His research focuses on advancing our understanding of how the built environment influences health behaviors and outcomes, with the goal of shaping land use policy to build healthier cities.