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Roberts-Semple, Dawn

Roberts-Semple, Dawn

Assistant Professor

Earth and Physical Sciences

Phone: 718-262-2775
Office Location: AC-1E14
Email: drobertssemple@york.cuny.edu

Dr. Roberts-Semple is an environmental scientist with an interdisciplinary background. Her research is focused on the meteorological impacts on particle- and gas-phase air pollutant concentrations, and their cumulative effects on respiratory health. Dr. Roberts-Semple’s teaching interests in the Geosciences include natural landscape processes, land use change and urban environmental issues of energy and resource consumption. She is currently exploring the use of low-cost technology to monitor air pollution through student-centered and community-based participatory research.

Office Hours

DayTime
By Appointment

Education

DegreeInstitutionFieldDates
PhD Rutgers University Environmental Science 2012 
MPhil Cambridge University, UK Environment and Development 1998 
BA University of Guyana Geography 1995 

Areas of Expertise

  • Air pollution characterization
  • Local climate change
  • Public health
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Environmental justice

Publications in Field Of Expertise

Articles

Refereed Proceedings

Non Refereed Proceedings

  • Boeglin R., Goodman W., Latham S. (Eds)...Roberts-Semple D. et al. "The State of Waste in Queens." A Report by the Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board Organizing Committee. 2021: .

Other

Presented Papers, Lectures, and Exhibitions and Performances

Professional Honors, Prizes, Fellowships

  • NIH Minority Biomedical Research Support Fellowship: 2011 - 2012.
  • AGU Outstanding Student Paper Award: 2011.
  • Association for Women Geoscientists, Chrysalis Award: 2011.
  • Graduate Student Excellence Award, Rutgers University: 2011.
  • National Science Foundation Fellowship, Rutgers University: 2009 - 2011.
  • Sutosama Trust Research Award, Cambridge University: 1997.
  • Cambridge Commonwealth Trust ODA Award: 1996 - 1997.

Grants-In-Aid

  • EPA STAR, Studying air pollution-health-climate interactions for people of color in Southeast Queens, NY: A community-based project. 2022 - 2025: $1,344,622.
  • CUNY, Office of Research, Impact of fine particulate matter on COVID-19 deaths in proximity to two airports in New York City. 2021: $38,000.
  • National Institutes of Health, Community-led investigation of air quality and environmental injustice in proximity to two waste transfer stations in Jamaica, Queens. 2021: $25,000.
  • NYSDEC, Assessing airport-related noise and air pollution levels in SE Queens. 2020-2021: $100,000.
  • PSC-CUNY, The impact of aircraft emissions on local air quality and public health in the JFK Airshed. 2020: $12,000.
  • PSC-CUNY, Public health implications of mobile source emissions near York College campus in Jamaica, Queens. 2018: $6,000.
  • CUNY, Office of Research, Learning through innovative and inquiry-driven methods: An investigation of indoor air quality in the classroom. 2018: $7,500.
  • UNEP, Integrating environment and experience for sustainable rural development - A Road Map. 2016-2017: $6,000.
  • Association for Women Geoscientists, Air pollution and public health effects in Newark, NJ. 2011: $2,000.
  • PSC-CUNY, Field investigations in Earth and Environmental Sciences. 2008-2010: $9,000.

Offices Held In Professional Societies

  • Member, Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) Community: 2023.
  • Member, American Chemical Society: 2020 - Present.
  • Member, Rutgers Alumni Association: 2012 - Present.
  • Member, American Meteorological Society: 2011 - Present.
  • Member, American Women Geoscientists: 2011 - Present.
  • Member, American Geophysical Union: 2011 - Present.
  • Member, Oxford Round Table, U.K.: 2007 - Present.
  • Fellow, Cambridge University Commonwealth Society, U.K.: 1997 - Present.

Other Professional Activities and Public Service

  • Reviewer: CRC Press - Taylor and Francis Group: 2023.
  • Associate: Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board (QSWAB): 2020 – Present.
  • Member: JFK Airport Committee/NY Community Aviation Roundtable: 2017 - Present.
  • Member: Eastern Queens Alliance for Environmental Science: 2017 - Present.
  • Co-Moderator: Environmental Justice & Health Disparities Symposium, University of Maryland: 08/2022.
  • Guest Editor: Environmental Justice, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers: 2022.
  • Reviewer: Water, Air and Soil Pollution: 2022.
  • Chair Judge: Junior Science and Humanities Symposium: 2017 - 2022.
  • Reviewer: Atmospheric Pollution Research: 2021.
  • Reviewer: American Chemical Society: 2019.
  • OSPA Judge: American Geophysical Union: 2018.
  • Reviewer: Journal of Geoscience Education: 2018.