By ALEXANDREA BAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [UTRGV] School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Science’s Coastal Studies Lab is closing out its Winter Seminar Series with dual talks on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 9-11 a.m.
Admission is free to the entire public and refreshments are provided. Space is limited. Online registration is required by visiting www.utrgv.edu/coastal-studies-lab under the “Education Services” tab.
Dr. Amit Raysoni will kick off the morning with his talk regarding air quality in the RGV at 9 a.m. Findings from his ongoing air pollution research will be the focus of Raysoni’s talk.
He’s an assistant professor and researcher of air quality at the UTRGV. He says in the past his work has focused on characterizing air pollutant levels caused by traffic. In the RGV, his focus has been on transboundary air pollution, studying emissions from Mexico. He and his team of graduate and undergraduate students have worked on projects regarding the effects of sugarcane burning in the Valley. One of those projects, funded by NASA, according to Raysoni, included the installation of air quality sensors throughout the RGV as well as the use of NASA satellites to further gather data.
“I will be discussing some of the recent findings that we have completed here in the Valley,” said Raysoni.
He hopes to give attendees a better understanding of the unique challenges border towns face regarding air pollution, as well as how to address these issues.
“The citizenry on both sides of the border could lessen the burden of the exposure of air pollution,’ said Raysoni. Raysoni has worked with UTRGV since August 2018, teaching and researching environmental science. The Coastal Studies Lab is located at 100 Marine Lab Dr, South Padre Island. It costs $ 12$ to enter Isla Blanca Park, unless one has purchased a year-long county park pass.