Wen-Ching Chuang
School of Georgraphical Science and Urban Planning
Arizona State University
PO Box 875302
Tempe, AZ 85287-5302
Biography
Wen-Ching is a sustainability scientist and a GIS instructor who takes an interdisciplinary approach to address the complexity of social-ecological resilience. Her research uses geospatial analysis to monitor the change of social-ecological systems under the impact of climate change. To better understand communities' resilience to climate change, her research investigates the community’s adaptive capacity by assessing ecosystem-based adaptation, such as the distribution of green spaces, green infrastructure, and urban trees across cities. Her work highlights the importance of interdisciplinarity in investigating the interactions between human and natural systems. Her research interests include human vulnerability to climate change, disaster resilience, and environmental inequality, which she uses to integrate my teaching and services.
Wen-Ching has extensive research and teaching experience before joining the School of Geographical Science and Urban Planning at ASU. She taught at Miami University before moving back to AZ.
Education
- PhD, Sustainability, Arizona State University
- MPP, Public Policy, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- MA, Journalism, National Taiwan University, Taipei
- BA, Journalism, Shih Hsin University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Certified GIS Professional, #00091169, GIS Certification Institute
Expertise
Journal Articles
2022
Jozaei, J., W. Chuang, C. R. Allen and A. Garmestani. 2022. Social vulnerability, social-ecological resilience and coastal governance. Global Sustainability 5(e12):1-9. DOI: 10.1017/sus.2022.10. (link )
2019
Chuang, W., T. Eason, A. Garmestani and C. Roberts. 2019. Impact of Hurrican Katrina on the coastal systems of southern Louisiana. Frontiers in Environmental Science 7(Art. 15):1-15. DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2019.00068. (link )
Eason, T., W. Chuang, S. Sundstrom and H. Cabezas. 2019. An information theory-based approach to assessing spatial patterns in complex systems. Entropy 21(2):182. DOI: 10.3390/e21020182. (link )
2018
Chuang, W., A. Garmestani, T. Eason, T. L. Stanbauer, H. B. Fried-Petersen, C. Roberts, S. Sundstrom, J. L. Burnett, D. G. Angeler, B. Chaffin, L. H. Gunderson, D. Twidwell and C. R. Allen. 2018. Enhancing quantitative approaches for assessing community resilience. Journal of Environmental Management 213(May):353-362. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.01.083. (link )
Herrmann, D. L., W. Chuang, K. Schwarz, T. M. Bowles, A. Garmestani, W. D. Shuster, T. Eason, M. E. Hopton and C. R. Allen. 2018. Agroecology for the shrinking city. Sustainability 10(3):675. DOI: 10.3390/su10030675. (link )
2017
Chuang, W., C. G. Boone, D. H. Locke, J. M. Grove, A. L. Whitmer, G. L. Buckley and S. Zhang. 2017. Tree canopy change and neighborhood stability: A comparative analysis of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 27(Oct):363-372. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2017.03.030. (link )
2016
Smith, M. E., B. L. Stark, W. Chuang, T. J. Dennehy, S. L. Harlan, A. Kamp-Whittaker, B. W. Stanley and A. M. York. 2016. Comparative methods for premodern cities: Coding for governance and class mobility. Cross-Cultural Research 50(5):415-451. DOI: 10.1177/1069397116665824. (link )
2015
Chuang, W. and P. Gober. 2015. Predicting hospitalization for heat-related illness at the census-tract level: Accuracy of a Generic Heat Vulnerability Index in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). Environmental Health Perspectives 123:606-612. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1307868. (link )
Wolf, T., W. Chuang and G. McGregor. 2015. On the science-policy bridge: Do spatial heat vulnerability assessment studies influence policy?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12(10):13321-13349. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph121013321. (link )
2013
Chuang, W., P. Gober, W. T. Chow and J. S. Golden. 2013. Sensitivity to heat: A comparative study of Phoenix, Arizona and Chicago, Illinois (2003-2006). Urban Climate 5(October 2013):1-18. DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2013.07.003. (link )
2012
Chow, W. T., W. Chuang and P. Gober. 2012. Vulnerability to extreme heat in metropolitan Phoenix: Spatial, temporal and demographic dimensions. The Professional Geographer 64(2):286-302. DOI: 10.1080/00330124.2011.600225. (link )
Hartz, D. A., J. S. Golden, C. Sister, W. Chuang and A. J. Brazel. 2012. Climate and heat-related emergencies in Chicago, Illinois (2003-2006). International Journal of Biometeorology 56(1):71-83. DOI: 10.1007/s00484-010-0398-x. (link )
2009
Golden, J. S., W. Chuang and W. L. Stefanov. 2009. Enhanced classification of engineering paved surfaces for urban systems modeling. Earth Interactions Journal 13(5):1-18. DOI: 10.1175/2009E1274.1.
Book Chapters
2019
Angeler, D. G., H. B. Fried-Petersen, C. R. Allen, A. Garmestani, D. Twidwell, W. Chuang, V. M. Donovan, T. Eason, C. Roberts, S. Sundstrom and C. L. Wonkka. 2019. Chapter one - Adaptive capacity in ecosystems. Pp. 1-24 In: Bohan, D. A. and A. J. Dumbrell eds., Advances in Ecological Research: Resilience in Complex Socio-ecological Systems. Vol 60. Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-08-102854-4. (link )
Posters
2019
Chuang, W. 2019. Impacts of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans: A social-ecological dimension. Poster presented at the 2019 Ecological Soceity of America and USSEE, August 11-16, 2019, Louisville, KY. (link )
2013
Chuang, W. and P. Gober. 2013. Human vulnerability to heat in Phoenix and Chicago: Spatial and temporal dimensions. Poster presented at the 11 January 2013, 15th Annual CAP LTER Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting 2013, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2010
Chuang, W. and C. L. Redman. 2010. Monitoring 1985-2005 residential land-use and land-cover change in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Poster presented at the January 14, 2010 12th Annual Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability. (link )
2009
Sister, C., C. G. Boone, J. S. Golden, D. A. Hartz and W. Chuang. 2009. Spatial analysis of crime and socio-economic variables as indicators for heat-health vulnerability in Chicago, Illinois. Tempe, AZ. Poster presented at 11th Annual Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) Poster Symposium, Tempe, AZ. January 15, 2009. (link )
2008
Chuang, W. and J. S. Golden. 2008. An object-based approach for urban land-cover classification of engineered surfaces. Poster presented at 1 February 2008 GELSS Symposium, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Presentations
2022
Chuang, W. 2022. Cumulative effects of climate change, inequality, and exposure to hazardous wastes in coastal areas. Presentation at the American Association of Geographers 2022 Annual Meeting, February 28, 2022,
2018
Chuang, W., T. Eason and A. Garmestani. 2018. Managing for resilience to natural hazards: A case study in Louisiana. Presentation at the ESA Annual Meeting, August 5-10, 2018, New Orleans, LA. (link )
2017
Chuang, W., T. Spanbauer, T. Eason and A. Garmestani. 2017. Quantitative approaches for assessing ecological and community resilience. Presentation at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, August 6-11, 2017, Portland, OR. (link )
2015
Roach, M., N. Chhetri, W. Chuang, N. J. Selover, D. M. Hondula, A. Middel and A. Karner. 2015. Building resilience against climate effects in Arizona: Lessons learned implementing CDC's BRACE Framewwork. Presentation at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society, January 4-8, 2015, Phoenix, AZ. (link )
2009
Chow, W. T., W. Chuang and P. Gober. 2009. Vulnerability to extreme heat in metro Phoenix: Spatial, temporal and demographic dimensions. Las Vegas, NV. Presentation at the March 22-27 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers.
Chuang, W., S. W. Myint and J. S. Golden. 2009. Modeling and predicting heat-health vulnerability using data derived from remote sensing: A case study of Chandler, Arizona. Presentation at the 4 April 2009 Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 53rd Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona.
Chuang, W., S. W. Myint and J. S. Golden. 2009. Modeling and predicting heat-health vulnerability using data derived from remote sensing: A case study of Chandler, Arizona. Presentation at the 22-27 March 2009 Association of American Geographers 2009 Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Chuang, W., C. Sister, D. A. Hartz and J. S. Golden. 2009. The relationship between urban morphology and heat vulnerability in the City of Chicago. Presentation at the 10-15 January 2009 American Meteorological Society 89th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
Sister, C., C. G. Boone, J. S. Golden, D. A. Hartz and W. Chuang. 2009. Mapping social vulnerability to heat wave in Chicago. Presentation at the 10-15 January 2009 American Meteorological Society 89th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
2008
Chuang, W. and R. M. Aggarwal. 2008. Governance of environmental impacts of high-tech industry in developing countries: Top-down versus. Presentation at the 5-6 April 2008 Science & Technology: An International, Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Conference, Washington, DC.
2007
Chuang, W. and J. S. Golden. 2007. An object-based approach for urban land-cover classification of engineering surfaces. Presentation at the 14-16 November 2007 1st Climate Change and Human Health Vulnerability Conference, U.S. EPA, U.S. CDC, NOAA, and Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Reports
2015
Chuang, W., A. Karner, N. J. Selover, D. M. Hondula, N. Chhetri, A. Middel, M. Roach and B. Dufour. 2015. Arizona Extreme Weather, Climate and Health Profile Report. A report prepared for Arizona Department of Health Services and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative. Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability. (link )
Thesis (PhD)
2013
Chuang, W. 2013. Vulnerability to Heat Stress in Urban Areas: A Sustainability Perspective. PhD dissertation, School of Sustainability. Arizona State University. (link )
Gerald R Ford School of Public Policy Alumni Fellowship, University of Michigan, 2005-2007
Sustainable Energy Fellowship (Arizona State University, University of Michigan, Cornell University, Duke University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology), 2007