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Shona girl doing yardwork, Zimbabwe	Tubewell, Bangladesh	Children on the embankment, Bangladesh	Corn harvest, Zimbabwe	Contaminated pond, Bangladesh

Elisabeth Dowling Root
Department of Geography, University of Colorado

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Assistant Professor Department of Geography Faculty Research Affiliate Institute of Behavioral Science Office: Guggenheim 201B Phone: (303) 492-4794 elisabeth.root@colorado.edu	Health and Medical Geography My research explores geographical patterns of health and disease using quantitative spatial methodologies to understand the socioeconomic and environmental determinants of human health. I am particularly interested in the complex interactions between demographic, socioeconomic and environmental factors that influence human health and how we can quantify these factors and interactions to better understand health outcomes. My work relies on spatial statistical analysis, geographic information systems and remote sensing to explore the dynamic human-environment interactions that affect disease processes. My current research focuses on two broad topics: the ecology of chronic conditions (e.g., obesity, autism, birth defects) and socio-environmental drivers of communicable diseases (e.g., pneumonia and cholera). I have several major international health projects as well as two research initiatives in the United States. Teaching I teach courses in medical geography, disease ecology, spatial statistics (quantitative geographic methods) and GIS applications of public health. Many of my courses used a problem based learning (PBL) approach. PBL allows for student collaboration in an active learning environment. Classes often begin with the introduction of a problem based on complex real-world situations and students work in groups to identify, find and use appropriate resources to "solve" the problem. Images provided by: Elisabeth Root, Maggie Carrel and Veronica Escamilla
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