This was a research project I was intending to do as part of my PhD dissertation before I was pushed (and then spiritually guided) to leave the program
Light, not Blight: Investigating spatiotemporal variations of plant and soil microbe communities in Baltimore vacant lots
Amy V. Vasquez
Abstract
The prevalence of vacant lots is characteristic of shrinking cities like Baltimore, whose population has decreased by about 6% in the last decade. Legacies of racist practices, such as red-lining, have contributed to the disproportionate disinvestment of predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods, where most of these vacant lots are located. In addition, the abandoned communities are often perceived by outsiders as ‘dangerous’, which has resulted in much lower scientific inquiry in these areas – which I’ll refer to here as scientific disinvestment. On the other end of the spectrum, you have scientists that are aware of this gap in the research and seek to capitalize on it with little to no real consideration for the communities that they are invading – which I’ll refer to as scientific exploitation. My research aims to combat scientific disinvestment by shedding light on (1) the plant and microbial community composition in an urban green space that is relatively understudied in urban ecology – vacant lots, and by (2) focusing sampling efforts in predominantly Black and Latinx, low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore. I attempt to avoid scientific exploitation in my research by (3) informing the local community members about the research that is happening in their neighborhoods so that they can choose to be as involved as they want, and by (4) incorporating a scientific question whose primary goal is to improve the living conditions of our Baltimorean neighbors.
Plain Language Summary
Vacant lots are becoming more common as Baltimore’s population continues to shrink. Though ubiquitous in cities like Baltimore, vacant lots have not been studied as much as other green spaces in the urban environment. This is due in part to the preference that ecologists, in particular, seem to have towards studying pristine, or more natural, environments. The negative impressions often associated with vacant lots and the neighborhoods they are found in have also limited the number of studies done in these areas. My research aims to shed light on the plant and microbial communities of vacant lots across Baltimore, and to give back to the communities in which this study will take place in the process.
UpGoer 5
More empty green spaces are popping up in cities that are getting smaller, especially in low-money areas. We don’t know much about the green and tiny life in the ground of these empty lots since these areas are not being studied enough. I want to study the green and tiny life in these empty green spaces and give back to the people in these low-money areas through this work.