In May, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI) was awarded a $2.25 million first-of-its-kind federal grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish the Center of Excellence for Heat Resilient Communities. The center will help communities develop effective and equitable strategies for heat mitigation and management.

To support this new initiative, we hired Zach Wampler as our new project coordinator of heat equity research engagement. He brings to this role his background working with local and regional governments on heat-specific community education, community engagement, and research-informed heat-resilient land use policy. 

We asked Zach a few questions to get to know him better. Read on to learn more about him!

Why is environmental policy important to you?

Environmental policy is a space where we make contested, collective choices about the extraction, use, distribution, and management of natural resources and pollution. My work is motivated by care and justice, for humans and non-humans alike, and environmental policy provides a mechanism to make choices that reflect these values.

How did you first get interested in environmental policy?

My interest in environmental policy began through coursework in the environmental

social sciences and humanities. My experiences in research and local government helped me better connect environmental policy with lived experience, justice, and economic well-being.

What are you most looking forward to in this role?

I look forward to learning how to be an effective agent for positive change from my colleagues and collaborators. I’m an early career professional surrounded by knowledgeable practitioners, researchers, and leaders—I intend to take advantage!

What types of research do you most enjoy?

While my experience is in geospatial approaches, I want to gain experience in participatory and qualitative approaches. Long term, I am interested in translating lived experience and alternative ways of knowing for policymakers such that these data can be used to create more sustainable and equitable solutions. 

What drew you to UCLA and the Luskin Center for Innovation?

LCI’s emphasis on actionable data, of which participation- and equity-centered design are focal, convinced me that it would be a good place to both do good work that I believe in and develop new skill sets.

What are a few things people should know about you?

Hard to say! I enjoy being curious and believe that a new question can be a better result than a

good answer. I also believe that caring relationships are primary to good governance and outcomes. They help us see past our differences and make better collective decisions.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I spend as much time outdoors as I can, whether that be on some adventure in the backcountry or strolling through my neighborhood or local public park. I also enjoy reading and live music – recommendations are welcomed!

To learn more about Zach’s experience, see his bio. To get in touch, email him at zwampler@g.ucla.edu.