Post by Circe Rodgers

I'm very happy to share that over the last few weeks I finished and submitted my Undergraduate dissertation. My research investigated how flood exposure, social vulnerability, and racial composition influenced changes in voter turnout and support for the incumbent. By combining GIS spatial analysis with statistical modelling, I examined how these factors interacted to produce uneven political impacts across the city. The aim of this project was to better understand whether post-disaster electoral change reflects shifts in political behaviour, or whether it is driven by deeper structural changes. In particular displacement and the unequal ability of different communities to participate in elections. I chose this topic because I’m interested in the intersection of geography, politics, and social justice. Overall, this project has strengthened my skills in data analysis, GIS, and critical research, while deepening my interest in political geography and the social impacts of environmental change.