J. Rodrigo Leal

Environment.

Sustainability.

Resilience.

P R O J E C TP O R T F O L I O

ABOUT

Jose Rodrigo LealEnvironment + Sustainability + Resilience

I am a senior undergraduate student studying

environmental and social sciences at Harvard

University in Cambridge, MA. For the past few

years, my main academic and professional focus

has been in the area of geospatial analysis and urban resilience to climate and weather

extremes. By using statistical and geospatial

tools, I’ve contributed to various projects on

urban planning, sustainable development, and

environmental change. In addition to my

analytical skills, I also excel in my ability to

conduct research and communicate technical concepts, both in speech and in writing.

Having grown up in Brownsville, TX, I’ve witnessed firsthand how chronic stresses, like

poor public health and aging infrastructure, and

acute shocks, such as hurricanes and sudden

droughts, can take a toll on a community. My

professional aim is to help cities address

weaknesses in urban systems and bolster response and adaptation mechanisms that will

ultimately allow communities to become more

sustainable and resilient.

SKILLS

General:Report/Memo writingResearchGeospatial analysis Public speakingCommunication & outreach

Technical:ArcGISGeoDaQGISMATLABTableauStataMS Word MS Excel MS PowerpointAdobe Audition

Languages: EnglishSpanish Portuguese (limited working proficiency)

* all images on cover by Rodrigo Leal

J. Rodrigo Leal

HOME

1922 Apollo Circle

Brownsville, TX 78521

UNIVERSITY

95 Dunster Street

319 Kirkland Mail Center

Cambridge, MA 02138

CONTACT

joserodrigo.leal@gmail.com

joserodrigoleal@college.harvard.edu

(512) 660 - 9499

LinkedIn: J. Rodrigo Leal

PROJECT PORTFOLIO

CONTENTS

Geospatial Analysis

Assessing Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones in the Texas Gulf Coast Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1| Spring 2015

Technical Policy Memos

Reconsidering the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s Draft Basin Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3| Spring 2014

Urban Research

Climate and the City: Using Tools and Resources to Foster Resilient Urban Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5| Summer 2015

Measuring the Effects of Temperature Extremes on Educational Attainment in NYC Public Schools . . . . . . 7| Fall 2015 – Present

Media & Communications

Sense & Sustainability Podcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9| Fall 2015 – Present

WHRB 95.3 FM (Harvard Radio Broadcasting) News Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9| Fall 2014 – Present

Assessing Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones in the Texas Gulf Coast Region

The “Assessing Vulnerability” report quantified tropical cyclone vulnerability along the Texas coastline through the use of geospatial technologies (ArcGIS & GeoDA) and the construction of a vulnerability index. The Texas Gulf Coast is home to the 4th largest city in the United States, Houston, TX, as well as one of the poorest regions in the entire country, the Rio Grande Valley. This study was completed as part of a final project for a spatial analysis course at Harvard University.

This study undertook a spatial examination of vulnerability through the formulation of a weighted linear index model that incorporates demographic, physical, and climatological data. The resulting index model, known as the Tropical Cyclone Vulnerability Index, revealed high levels of vulnerability in some of the region’s most highly populated and economically disadvantaged areas, suggesting the need for policy interventions to ensure disaster preparedness and improve response capacity among vulnerable populations.

Role:

Research, geospatial analysis, map design, writing, report creation

Geospatial Analysis | Spring 2015

Historical Cyclone Paths & Landfall Counts

High (R) & Low (B) Vulnerability Clusters in Houston

1

Tropical Cyclone Vulnerability along the Texas Gulf Coast

2

Reconsidering the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s Draft Basin Plan

The “Reconsidering the MDBA’s Draft Basin Plan” policy memo is an example of the type of technical policy writing I have completed while at university. The policy memo took an existing issue in water management and provided an assessment of various policy options to resolve issues of water scarcity and allocation in the Murray Darling Basin in Australia. The memo was completed as an exercise for an environmental science and public policy course at Harvard University.

The memo takes an eight-pronged approach to policy analysis: (1) framing the problem, (2) assembling evidence, (3) constructing policy alternatives, (4) selecting criteria by which to judge these alternatives, (5) projecting the outcomes of each alternative, (6) comparing costs and benefits, (7) making a decision regarding the best policy option, and (8) structuring the document in a way that best addresses the policy issue at hand.

Role:

Research, policy analysis, writing, memo layout

Technical Policy Memo | Spring 2014

3

1/2

2/2

4

Climate and the City: Using Tools & Resources to Foster Resilient Urban Environments

This research project characterized the key weather and climate challenges cities around the U.S. are facing, analyzed the current steps cities are taking to become “climate resilient,” and aligned existing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tools and resources to help promote resilient urban environments. Through an analysis of climate policy documents, interactions with experts and stakeholders, and research on urban climate issues, the “Climate and the City” project contributed to a larger effort to create an “urban issues” section for the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit.

This project was conducted during an internship with the NOAA Climate Program Office in Silver Spring, MD.

Role:

Research, interviews, writing, creation of outreach materials, presentation of findings

Urban Research | Summer 2015

5Presentation Slides

6Outreach Materials

Measuring the Effects of Temperature Extremes on Educational Attainment in NYC Public Schools

As global mean surface temperatures continue to rise in the 21st century, cities must learn how to deal with the effects of higher daily temperatures on worker productivity, student performance, and overall public health. Increased temperatures will exacerbate the existing urban heat island effect, leaving urban residents to bear the brunt of temperature extremes.

This research project explores the impacts of temperature stress on New York City Public School students through an analysis of NYC climatological data, demographic data, and student AP, SAT, and state exit exam scores. The research findings are meant to inform NYC public officials’ actions regarding urban resilience to weather and climate extremes. The “Measuring the Effects of Temperature Extremes” project is part of an ongoing investigation at the Harvard University Department of Economics and is supported by the Harvard Climate Change Solutions Fund.

Role:

Research, data analysis, data management, geospatial analysis, map design, data visualization

Urban Research | Fall 2015 - Present

7

Temperature (°F) Variability in NYC on Hot Summer Day

Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, TomTom, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN,GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, MapmyIndia, ©OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

LegendNYC School DistrictsGraduation Rate (2010 Cohort)

0.36 - 0.401

0.401 - 0.442

0.442 - 0.483

0.483 - 0.524

0.524 - 0.565

0.565 - 0.606

0.606 - 0.647

0.647 - 0.688

0.688 - 0.729

0.729 - 0.770

School AC StatusNo AC

AC Available

Data: NYC Department of Education

8

School AC Availability and Student Performance

Days above 85°F (Summer 2011) and Household Incomes

WHRB 95.3 FM (Harvard Radio Broadcasting)News Department

The News Department produces weekly content for

WHRB 95.3 FM, ranging from news commentaries to

human interest stories. As News Director, I ensure programming is on schedule, check pieces for

quality, edit stories, and conduct interviews. The

News Department is currently restructuring its

weekly news format to allow for a greater diversity

of stories and personal creativity among its

members.

Role:

Team management, research, audio recording, audio

editing, website updating, interviews

Website:

whrb.org

Media & Communications | Fall 2014 - Present

Sense and Sustainability Podcast

Media & Communications | Fall 2015 - Present

Sense & Sustainability (S&S) is a media start-up that seeks to engage a wide audience in discussions about sustainable development and its challenges. S&S strives to synthesize sustainability-related research in an academically rigorous manner while maintaining accessibility and showcasing a diversity of perspectives. As a Podcast Producer, I am responsible for identifying, contacting, and researching potential podcast interview guests, as well as recording and editing podcast episodes.

Current major projects include interviews with former Mayor of Houston Annise Parker and former Chief Urban Designer of NYC Alexandros Washburn.

Role:

Research, audio recording, audio editing, interviews

Website:

senseandsustainability.net

9

J. Rodrigo Leal | 2016