Improving Community Resilience and Management Practices

Impact of solid waste on soil-water in underserved rural communities of the deep South

Dr. Maryam Karimi, director of Research and associate professor of the School of Public Health, and her co-PI, Dr. Rouzbeh Nazari,  chair and professor in Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering in the Herff College of Engineering, have been awarded a grant by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the groundbreaking research project, "Solid Waste Management Impact on Soil-Water Resources Across the Underserved Rural Communities of Black-Belt and the Deep South of Alabama and Mississippi." This project addresses critical environmental and public health issues rural communities face.

This research aims to assess how inefficient waste management contributes to severe soil and water contamination. Using advanced modeling tools like SWAT+ and MODFLOW, the team will track pollutant pathways and develop optimized monitoring systems. In collaboration with Alabama Riverkeeper, Cahaba Riverkeeper, and Freshwater Land Trust, the project also includes community workshops, hands-on training, and technical support to improve waste management practices.

The potential impact of Karimi’s research is profound. It offers sustainable solutions to mitigate environmental health risks, enhance ecosystem sustainability, and build community resilience. By empowering rural communities through education and participatory approaches, this project addresses immediate environmental concerns and promotes long-term public health benefits, social equity, and economic development. The outcomes of this work will serve as a vital resource for policymakers and community leaders, guiding future environmental management strategies in vulnerable regions across the South.

For more information on this research, contact Karimi at mkarimi1@memphis.edu.