The Office of the Provost is pleased to present the 2021-22 Wall Award Lecture on Tuesday, November 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Room in the Barone Campus Center. This year’s Wall Award recipient is economics professor William Fernando Vásquez Mazariegos, PhD, who will present his research, titled, “In Deep Waters: Perceptions, Intentions, and Adaptation to Sea Level Rise and Related Impacts.” The Fairfield University Wall Award recognizes the scholarly work of tenured faculty members and grants the annual recipient a semester-long sabbatical to focus on important research in their respective field.

“Unique to Fairfield, the Wall Award has allowed nearly 30 expert faculty to pursue important research from their diverse fields,” said Walter Rankin, PhD, vice provost for graduate, continuing, and professional studies. “The potential impact of this research to improve the lives of those in marginalized communities reflects Fairfield’s mission as well as Professor Vasquez’s deep academic expertise.”

Dr. Vásquez Mazariegos’ research addresses an important issue in developing countries, specifically in Latin America, that investigates preferences for mitigation and adaptation to sea level rise. This research has the potential to impact decision-makers and improve the lives of many in Latin America who are at greater risk due to rising sea levels compared to other regions in the world.

Dr. Vásquez Mazariegos explains that sea level rise (SLR) “(…) is a more complex hazard than other natural disasters. It is not easy for families to decide on measures to adapt to SLR due to the uncertainty of the timing, scope, and intensity of future SLR effects. Households could also be uncertain about the effectiveness of some adaptation measures and may question their own efficacy to implement those measures. In this context of uncertainty, it is crucial to improve our understanding of how households perceive SLR and how they plan to respond to it.”

To register for this event visit fairfield.edu/wall-award.