Aubin Vertueux Dzossa Bontse ’27 talks climate resilience

For several years now, the Shi Institute’s Applied Research team has been diligently working on a variety of resilience-building initiatives in South Carolina. This team has recently taken on multiple projects to assist communities that have been designated by the federal government as Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZs). These communities are highly vulnerable to natural disasters like hurricane damage and extreme heat, which are exacerbated by climate change. To support this important work, I was recruited to serve as the Shi Institute’s Climate Resilience Fellow this summer.

My name is Aubin Vertueux Dzossa Bontse and I am a physics major from the Class of 2027. I grew up in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the disastrous impact of climate hazards such as floods, drought and extreme heat on historically under-resourced communities. This experience, among others, stimulated my interest in sustainability and resilience building, which drew me to the Climate Resilience Fellowship.

As an intern with the Applied Research Team, my main responsibilities include supporting projects related to CDRZs, climate, health and equity. These include using Python-aided GIS analysis to create a heat vulnerability map and researching climate resilience best practices and plans. I am also tasked with creating databases summarizing resilience-building efforts in South Carolina, as well as resources or guides to enhance these efforts.

Many people, especially those in under-resourced communities, still lack sufficient knowledge about climate change and how to mitigate or adapt to its effects. With this mindset, I’m looking forward to continuing this work during the upcoming academic year. Follow our work here!