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The Impact of Climate Change on Educational Attainment: Evidence from the Global Tropics

Heather Randell
Thursday, October 12, 2017
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Heather Randell
Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and the University Program in Environmental Policy Seminar Series

Heather Randell, postdoctoral fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, will discuss "The Impact of Climate Change on Educational Attainment: Evidence from the Global Tropics," on Thursday, October 12, in Environmental Hall on the Duke University campus.

Investments in education serve as an important pathway out of poverty, yet reduced agricultural productivity due to droughts or temperature shocks may affect educational attainment if children receive poorer nutrition during early childhood, are required to participate in household income generation during schooling ages, or if households can no longer pay for school-related expenses. Randell's research looks to understand the relationship between climate variability and educational outcomes by linking longitudinal socioeconomic, demographic, and schooling data from rural Ethiopia to climate data to measure exposure to temperature and precipitation relative to historical norms. Results indicate that more favorable early life climatic conditions, namely milder temperatures during all seasons and greater rainfall during the summer agricultural season,are associated with an increased likelihood of a child having completed any education.

This talk is part of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and the University Program in Environmental Policy seminar series featuring leading experts discussing a variety of pressing environmentally focused topics.

Contact: David Bjorkback