An Arizona-based medical anthropologist draws on local narratives to enrich environmental science

Researcher Denise Moreno-Ramirez is using oral histories to enhance her environmental science research, shedding light on the impact of neglected toxic sites on communities. Emma Peterson, reporting for Inside Climate News, discusses Moreno-Ramirez’s work in Nogales, Arizona, where she encountered health crises related to historical contamination that were not recognized.

Moreno-Ramirez’s PhD project, titled “Voices Unheard,” focuses on collecting firsthand accounts from local residents to complement scientific data with personal narratives. By emphasizing the overlooked histories of communities affected by toxic sites, Moreno-Ramirez aims to demonstrate the value of oral histories in scientific research, pushing back against the trend of focusing solely on depersonalized data analysis.

In a quote from Chief of the Oral History Society, Rib Davis, it is stated that “The answer isn’t just in science. It’s in people.” This sentiment reflects the importance of incorporating personal stories into scientific research to provide a holistic understanding of environmental health impacts.

By incorporating community stories into scientific research, Moreno-Ramirez believes that a human context can be added to scientific data, leading to better-informed policy decisions. Inclusion of marginalized communities in scientific research has the potential to pave the way for healthier futures for those who have been historically overlooked.
Explore Moreno-Ramirez’s essay in our Agents of Change program, entitled “A Love Note to Brown Women Facing Beauty Injustices,” to learn more about her work and advocacy for inclusive scientific research.