Denise Moreno Ramirez

Denise is a doctoral student within Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science with an accommodating minor in Medical Anthropology. 

Denise is exploring how National Priority List Superfund sites are federally designated lands that pose a risk to human and environmental health due to the presences of hazardous contamination. Each of these sites has a unique history consisting of the experiences of those who have lived in an area of environmental risk, and those who have documented and challenged practices that have led to environmental degradation. However, as time passes, the memory of community members is lost as they age and/or leave the area. An oral history method was selected to preserve this knowledge by community members living near two Superfund sites in Arizona. 

Archival work has been completed on both sites to establish a historical framework. Need assessment interviews and surveys have also been conducted with key community members to explore the importance of undertaking such a project, how it should be developed, who should be interviewed, and what the outcomes should be. The next steps include: 1) the capture of oral history interviews using audio and video recordings and personal photographs; 2) the collaboration with community members to identify ways to share their histories with a broader audience, and 3) the development of an Arizona Superfund site archive. Overall, the study will inform the fields of environmental communication and social justice by capturing the real world experiences of those residing near contamination and who are engaged in environmental justice advocacy. 

More information on Denise can be found on her linkedin or through her UA SWES Department profile.