Conducting Community-Centered and Place-Based Research

Introducing the Next Generation Oil Spill Researchers Initiative
Oyster boats docked on Gulf waters. Source: Shutterstock.

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. CT / 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET

Register for Session 3

Webinar Description

This session will explore approaches to conducting oil spill research that is centered on community priorities and attentive to local geographic and cultural context. Speakers will discuss strategies for building sustained and trusting relationships with Gulf Coast communities, designing research that responds to local environmental, health, and economic concerns, and translating findings in ways that support community well-being. The discussion will also examine how partnerships among researchers, practitioners, coastal community members, and decision-makers can strengthen community-centered research and support more effective and equitable resilience outcomes. Together, the speakers will highlight the importance of sustained community engagement and cross-sector collaboration in addressing the complex and co-occurring impacts of oil spills. The session will conclude with time for Q&A and discussion.

This webinar will be recorded and posted on the Natural Hazards Center website after the event. You can learn more about the Next Generation Oil Spill Researchers community of practice here. Please remember to sign up for future webinars and free resources here.

Speakers

Julien Lartigue, NOAA RESTORE Science Program. Julien Lartigue is the director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s RESTORE Science Program. He uses his experience working at academic institutes across the Gulf States and with federal and state agencies to connect the research and information needs of resource managers to the problem-solving capacity within the research community. As a long-time resident of the Gulf Coast, he is committed to the conservation and wise-management of the region’s natural resources and the future of its coastal communities. Lartigue received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Swarthmore College and holds a PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of South Alabama.
Benjamin Springgate, Louisiana State University. Benjamin Springgate is a practicing internist and addiction medicine physician, researcher, and educator at Louisiana State University Health—New Orleans. He serves as professor and chief of the Department of Community and Population Medicine and director of the Center for Healthcare Value and Effectiveness. He works in partnership with community members to understand and improve health and psychological well-being in the face of extreme weather events and environmental disasters. His work has been supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Academies of Sciences’ Gulf Research Program, and Louisiana Department of Health, among others. He received his master’s in public health and doctor of medicine from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Chris Hale, Texas Sea Grant. Chris Hale is the associate director and extension lead for the Texas Sea Grant College Program at Texas A&M University. With a diverse background in marine and environmental science, social science, and community engagement, her work takes place at the nexus of humans and the environment. In her current role, Hale leads the Texas Sea Grant Extension team in carrying out their mission to improve the understanding, sustainable use, and stewardship of coastal and ocean resources. Her work is solutions-oriented—she uses science communication, co-production, and evaluation techniques to design and apply collaborative processes to achieve conservation, restoration, and resilience objectives.

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn strategies for building sustained and trusting community-based relationships.
  • Understand how to design research that responds to local environmental, health, and economic concerns.
  • Identify ways to translate findings into evidence-based preparedness, response, and recovery.
  • Recognize how community-based partnerships can strengthen the quality and relevance of oil spill research.

Prepare Ahead

Additional Suggested Readings and Resources

The Next Generation Oil Spill Researchers Community of Practice is funded by the Gulf Research Program at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Award #SCON-10001452). Opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations produced through this initiative are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Gulf Research Program or Natural Hazards Center.