Water Economics and Politics Seminar Series
/ Water and health

Drought, health, and resilience: Protecting communities in a changing climate

Speaker: Prof. Jesse Bell | Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate and Health at University of Nebraska Medical Center; Director of the Water, Climate and Health Program; Director of Water, Climate and Health at Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI)

Moderator: Prof. Djiby Thiam | Director: WPE – Water and Production Economics, University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa

Time: 16:00 South African Standard Time (SAST) | GMT +2

Topic: The Water, Climate and Health Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center leads interdisciplinary research and engagement to understand and address the complex links between drought and human health. Drought is among the deadliest and costliest climate-related disasters globally, yet its health impacts are often overlooked. The program combines cutting-edge science, community engagement, and public health policy to improve drought preparedness and response worldwide. Key resources include national guidance documents for integrating health into drought planning and communication frameworks for health professionals. Through research, engagement, and training, the team advances evidence-based strategies to protect health and enhance community resilience.

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Jesse E. Bell

About the speaker: Dr Jesse E. Bell is the Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate, and Health in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), with a joint appointment in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He serves as Director of the Water, Climate and Health Program at UNMC and Director of Water, Climate and Health at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. As founding director, he helped establish the mission and strategic vision of a growing interdisciplinary initiative that now supports 19 faculty and staff, 17 students, and affiliated collaborators.

Dr Bell’s research examines how climate variability, environmental change, and water quality affect human health. Prior to UNMC, he held an interagency position between NOAA and the CDC, integrating climate data into public health decision-making. He has authored more than 80 publications and contributed to major national assessments, including the U.S. National Climate Assessment. A leading expert on drought and health, his work also advances water quality protection and science-based communication to safeguard communities. A native Nebraskan, he earned his PhD from the University of Oklahoma.

Seminar format:

  • Live online session on Microsoft Teams
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Live presentation with Q&A session

Who should attend: This series is open to students and faculty from academic institutions across South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, policymakers, engineering and technical professionals, advocacy groups, NGO staff, and anyone with a keen interest in water economics and policy.

The UCT-UCR Seminar Series

This seminar is part of the UCT-UCR Seminar Series: Water Economics and Politics, a collaboration between the University of Cape Town (UCT) and University of California, Riverside (UCR). Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates on upcoming sessions.

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