News

For more than 25 years, researchers across disciplines and policymakers worldwide have relied on the NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) to provide essential open-access population, environmental, and socioeconomic data. The spatial data produced or curated by SEDAC were specifically intended to facilitate integration with gridded Earth science data, in particular data from NASA’s constellation of remote sensing instruments. SEDAC has been managed by the Center for Integrated Earth Science Information (CIESIN) at Columbia University since 1998. 

Today, we are excited to announce a new chapter for this invaluable resource: the transition and expansion of the CIESIN data collection, which will now be hosted as part of CAFE RCC’s Data Collection on the Harvard Dataverse Repository. This transition ensures more sustainable, long-term preservation of data while broadening access for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across disciplines. 

The Harvard Dataverse is a generalist repository that adheres to the FAIR Principles, is open-source, and enables anyone to both deposit and download data. It is free and open to anyone from any discipline, and anyone can share, archive, cite, access, and explore data. 

What’s Changing and What’s Not?

The complete collection of 300 existing SEDAC datasets are migrating to the Harvard Dataverse repository for wider and more sustainable access. All SEDAC data will be available as a clearly labeled subcollection within the CIESIN collection on Harvard Dataverse. CIESIN is also releasing new data into this CIESIN dataverse collection. For example, the Global Gridded Relative Deprivation Index (GRDI v1.10) and EnvClim grids of urban exposure to climate risks have already come online, and over the coming weeks and months you’ll see other datasets being added to these. 

According to CIESIN director, Dr. Alex de Sherbinin, “The CIESIN collection is of great value to those who are seeking to understand current extreme weather risks, such as extreme heat and sea level rise, among highly exposed populations. It also includes projections of population and urban areas to better characterize future exposure. This makes it a perfect fit for the CAFE collection.”

Here’s a look at some of the datasets available on the CIESIN dataverse subcollection:

• Gridded Population of the World (GPW): Global population distribution by age and sex, this dataset has been the gold standard for environmental exposure analysis, disaster preparedness, and policy modeling since the 1990s. Versions 3 and 4 of this flagship data product are available for download in the SEDAC subcollection of the CIESIN collection on Dataverse, and version 5 is under development for future release on Dataverse.
  

• Air Pollution Metrics: Detailed local air quality data, originally developed by academic partners at Washington University in Saint Louis and Harvard University’s Chan School of Public Health, supports ongoing public health research and monitoring.

• Environmental Performance Index (EPI): Data and reports for every release of the Yale/Columbia EPI from 2006-2024, as well as its predecessor, the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI).

• Global Urban Points and Polygon Dataset (GUPPD): Records on over 125,000 settlements worldwide, including names and population trends since the 1970s, this dataset supports urban planning and historical research. 

These datasets, among many others, will be complemented by new datasets currently in the development pipeline (including, in some cases, updates to the datasets highlighted above). As datasets are completed, they will be deposited into the CIESIN subcollection on Dataverse.

What to Expect in the New Repository

You’ll notice the new repository looks and works a bit differently than what you might be used to. On NASA Earthdata Search, users can still access SEDAC data through a faceted search on variables, years, and regions. On Harvard Dataverse, under CIESIN’s subcollection within the CAFE collection, users will instead browse file lists and apply basic filters. The data are packaged in formats that make them easily downloadable for analysis.

To help you adjust, we’re developing support materials, including tutorials, FAQs, and guides, to make it easier for you to find and download exactly what you need from the new CIESIN subcollection on Harvard Dataverse. 

Looking Ahead

The transition of CIESIN’s data to the CAFE’s Harvard repository collection marks a significant step forward in the long-term preservation of SEDAC’s socioeconomic and environmental data. These datasets are vital for research on population dynamics, environmental exposures, and health outcomes, offering high-value resources for both scientific and policy applications. 

As we continue this transition, you can expect regular updates and new releases of both legacy and next-generation datasets. We’ll be sharing updates and showcasing data from CIESIN in CAFE’s newsletter, on CAFE’s social channels, and on the CAFE GitHub page.

Explore CIESIN’s Data Collection Now, and let us know what features or datasets are most useful for your work.

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Photo: © ChrisTYCat - stock.adobe.com

Thank you to all who joined CAFE’s State of the Science: Droughts and Health webinar with Dr. Jesse Berman from the University of Minnesota! If you missed it, or want to revisit key points, here’s a recap, with links to the relevant moments in the recording.

The Hidden Crisis

Of everyone affected by natural disasters around the world, 35% are affected by droughts, yet this is an area that remains understudied. Dr. Berman noted that, unlike dramatic hurricanes or wildfires, droughts' gradual nature does not capture public attention despite its significant impact. 

Research Challenge

Dr. Berman explained the complexity of studying this topic. Unlike direct exposures like heat or air pollution, droughts affect health indirectly through a series of secondary events, like increased dust, changes in the chemical composition of dust, or loss of economic stability, making it challenging to study.

Health Impacts

• Occupational Stress: Dr. Berman discussed his study of Midwestern farmers, drought conditions exacerbated stress 4x higher than other stressors, such as existing pain.
• Compound effects: Dr. Berman explored the compound effects that droughts can have on populations during heat wave events.
• Specific disease impacts: Dr. Berman covered the different drought conditions that enable diseases like West Nile and Lyme Disease to spread.

Key Takeaways

Unlike acute weather events, drought’s gradual nature allows time for interventions. “We can put policies into place before droughts become severe,” Dr. Berman emphasized. 

Current research priorities include developing standardized metrics, better identifying at-risk populations, and developing early warning systems that help policymakers better prepare their communities for resilience.

Photo: © Rhett Ayers Butler - stock.adobe.com

Use the Power of Story to Strengthen The Impact of Your Work in Climate and Health

Stories have the power to inform, connect, and inspire, which is especially important for those working at the intersection of climate and health, where facts and data alone are not always enough. 

‍CAFE’s Public Narrative Workshop, now in its second year, will introduce practical storytelling tools and techniques to help participants expand the reach and impact of their work. Participants will explore how to connect personal experience to broader themes, deepen understanding of shared challenges, and craft stories that communicate their work with clarity and purpose. 

The workshop consists of four sessions on November 13, November 20, December 4, and December 11, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. ET.

Application deadline: September 12, 2025.

Learn more and apply

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Thank you to all who joined us for the Hurricanes and Health: Understanding Risks and Fostering Resilience‍online conference on August 4, 2025! If you missed it, or want to revist key moments, here’s a recap: 
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Hurricanes & Health Expert Panel

• Research update: Arbor Quist from Ohio State University opened with an overview of hurricanes and health research, and discussed key challenges and research gaps. 
• Landfall frequency: Shaui Wang from the University of Delaware described the increasing frequency of hurricanes making landfall in the Atlantic basin due to shifting climate patterns. 
• Emergency preparedness: Edwin Sumargo from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Mike Souza from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency shared how state level emergency management teams prepare and coordinate for hurricanes across sectors. 
• Hurricane Forecasting: John Morales from NBC-6, South Florida spoke about evolving challenges in hurricane forecasting and the potential health implications for communities. 

Watch Now
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Hurricanes & Health Lighting Talks

Quick as a flash! 7-minute presentations to spark new ideas

Our seven lighting talk speakers delivered fast-paced, impactful talks covering hurricane effects on mortality, chronic conditions, birth outcomes, diarrheal diseases and older populations, as well as the implementation of resilient health care systems and spatiotemporal modeling to potentially decrease health impacts.

Watch the full session

Speakers included:

• Arnab Gosh, Cornell University
• Jiahang He, Boston University
• Xuejuan Ning, Yale School of Public Health
• Szu Yu Lin, The University of Tokyo
• Michelle Evans, Pivot
• Elena Naumova, Tufts University
• Ryan Zomorrodi, University of Illinois Chicago
• Elizabeth Fussel, Brown University*

* We regret that we experienced technical difficulties and could not record Elizabeth Fussel’s presentation.
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Workshop: Assessing hurricane exposure for epidemiological research

This workshop, led by Brooke Anderson from Colorado State University, covered how to assess hurricane wind exposure for epidemiological studies using storm tack data and wind field models. She introduced R packages “hurricaneexposure” and “hurricaneexposuredata”, which allow researchers to estimate local-level exposure to hurricanes. She took a deep dive into analytical methods for assessing hurricane exposure, using wind exposure over time in this example case with the R “hurricaneexposure” package. 

Watch the workshop | Access the R Package

Stay tuned for future events like this!

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In the rapidly evolving field of climate and health, staying current with the latest tools and training is essential for impactful work. To support your efforts to navigate this landscape, we’ve launched the Educational Resource Hub, a comprehensive, crowd-sourced collection of educational resources curated by and for the community.

How It Works

Rather than hosting content directly, the Resource Hub serves as a centralized directory linking to existing educational materials. The platform operates on a community-driven model where users can both access and contribute resources, creating a continuously expanding collection tailored to the needs of climate and health professionals. The collection also hosts educational  material created by the CAFE team. 

The Hub was developed through collaboration between our Data Management and Capacity Building teams, with a focus on accessibility and practical utility.

Available Resource Categories

Resource Types:

• Books and reference texts on climate-health topics
• Code repositories with analysis and visualization tools
• Online courses covering technical and professional skills
• Step-by-step tutorials for data analysis methods
• Recorded webinars and instructional videos

Skill Areas Covered:

• Data analysis, visualization, and statistical methods
• Cloud computing and computational tools
• Geospatial analysis and mapping
• API integration and data access
• Grant writing and professional development
• Science communication and writing

Contributing to the Hub

The Hub's strength lies in its community contributions. If you've found or developed resources that have been particularly useful in your work, consider adding them to the collection.

To submit a resource, use the submission form at the bottom of the Hub's main page. We will review submissions for relevance and appropriateness, though users should evaluate resources based on their own needs and verify attribution requirements.

For those with datasets to share, we recommend using Harvard Dataverse, as the Hub only aggregates links to external content rather than hosting files.

Important Considerations

• The Hub links to external content only; no files are hosted locally.
• Resource quality is not verified by CAFÉ. Users should review individual resource terms and attribution requirements
• The collection expands continuously through community contributions; check back regularly for new materials.

Getting Started

The CAFÉ Educational Resource Hub is available now and currently hosts 129 resources. Whether you're looking for specific technical training or want to contribute resources you've found valuable, the platform is designed to make professional development more efficient for our community.

We’ve redesigned our website to make it easier for you to find and access resources, opportunities, and connections to advance your climate and health research. 

Take a tour: 

Access Data Resources: Learn how to access and contribute to the CAFE Dataverse, an open-source repository where you can find or share data central to environmental health research. 

Explore Resources: Visit our searchable community-sourced Educational Resource Hub. You can browse and share resources including data analysis, geospatial, science communication, and grant writing resources, and more. 

Expand your network with CAFE connections: If you are looking for a collaborator, a mentor, data, or expertise in a specific area, check out our Matchmaking Tool.

Attend CAFE Events: Stay informed on event updates including workshops, webinars, and training opportunities. From GIS mapping workshops to state-of-the-science webinars, we're committed to building capacity across our community.

Explore Funding Opportunities: Get updates on all of our funding opportunities, including our pilot project programs, grant announcements, the GeoCAFE Scholars program, and other funding resources. 

Our Commitment to Action

We redesigned this site to spark collaboration and drive research and practice in the field of climate and health. We hope we’ve made it easier for you to connect, collaborate, and create impact. You can help this effort grow by:

• Submitting a dataset to the CAFE Dataverse 
• Adding resources to our Educational Resource Hub‍
• Letting us know about your new publications and upcoming events

Thank you for being part of our community, we hope you enjoy our site!

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