In this episode of Talking Environment, host Gevorg Ghazaryan speaks with Dr. Gwen Ottinger, Professor at Drexel University, whose work spans environmental justice, science and technology studies, and citizen science. Together, they explore the politics of environmental knowledge, who produces it, who benefits from it, and how communities are challenging traditional power structures through technology and data.

From community-led air monitoring to the ethical design of environmental technologies, this conversation dives deep into how science and justice intersect and how new forms of participation are reshaping both research and policy.

If you’ve ever asked, “Who gets to define the problem?” or “Whose knowledge counts?”, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Talking Environment, host Gevorg Ghazaryan speaks with Dr. Maryia Bakhtsiyarava from Drexel University about how climate change, urban inequality, and health outcomes are deeply connected, and how data can help us respond more justly.

Dr. Bakhtsiyarava explains how environmental exposures like heat and air pollution disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, and how spatial data science and GIS can illuminate patterns of environmental injustice. The episode highlights the role of research institutions in advancing climate equity and what cities can do to protect public health in a warming world.

Tune in to learn how combining science, compassion, and data can create more resilient and equitable communities.

In this episode of Talking Environment, host Gevorg Ghazaryan speaks with Dr. Neeti Bathala—Fulbright Specialist, Smithsonian Journeys Expert, and Drexel University professor—about her work in tropical conservation and environmental education.

The conversation highlights Dr. Bathala’s community-based conservation efforts in Belize and Costa Rica, including lionfish population control and partnerships with sea turtle protectors. She also discusses how education can bridge the gap between global environmental science and local realities, and why hope, culture, and collaboration are key to protecting fragile ecosystems.

Tune in to discover how science, students, and communities are coming together to lead sustainability efforts in some of the most vulnerable corners of our planet.