Jessica Block
Senior Research Scientist, Decision Theater, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development
Decision Theater
Arizona State University
PO Box 878409
Tempe, AZ 85287-8409
USA
Titles
- Senior Research Scientist, Decision Theater, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development
Biography
Jessica, who holds a master's degree in geology from ASU, helps bridge the gap between science and policymaking for Decision Theater clients with environmental data and, as a GIS expert, helps users visualize geologic information and maintain data accuracy.
Leveraging her interests in water projects, urban growth and sustainability, she has been working with the Decision Theater since January 2004 on environmental models of greater Phoenix.
Jessica received her B.S in geology from UCLA with a minor in urban planning. She went on to the U.S. Geological Survey to do geologic and GIS research on the urban corridor of the Pacific Northwest, evaluating geologic hazards for the region. She also has experience in groundwater resource consulting and hydrologic research.
Her research interests include fluvial geomorphology and hydrogeology in urban regions focusing on environmental policy and natural resource sustainability for urban regions. She was recently recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for research with an interdisciplinary team on water sustainability.
She is an alumna of the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training Program (IGERT) in urban ecology at ASU.
External Links
Posters
2008
Escobar, V. M., T. Lant, J. Block, P. Miller and M. K. Tschudi. 2008. A scenario-based assessment of future groundwater resources in the Phoenix Active Management Area. Poster presented at 10 January 2008 CAP LTER 10th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )
Escobar, V. M., T. Lant, J. Block, P. Miller and M. K. Tschudi. 2008. A scenario-based assessment of future groundwater resources in the Phoenix Active Management Area. Poster presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall meeting. January 12, 2008, San Francisco, CA.
2006
Kruger, M., K. L. Larson, R. M. Edsall and J. Block. 2006. The effects of 3D visualization on lay perspectives of environmental issues. Poster presented at the May 3, 2006 Community of Undergraduate Research Scholars (COURS) Poster Symposium, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )
Larson, K. L., R. M. Edsall, J. Block and M. Kruger. 2006. Environmental awareness and perceptions among lay and expert groups: Cognitive responses to three-dimensional visual information displays. Poster presented at the June, 2006 International Conference on Society and Natural Resource, Vancouver, BC.
2005
Block, J. 2005. Stream channel morphology and instability along the urban fringe: Flood frequency and flood hazards in the Hassayampa River region and its relationship to the greater Phoenix area. Poster presented at the 19 January 2005 CAP LTER Seventh Annual Poster Symposium, International Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )
Block, J., J. Carlson, G. S. Johnson, E. K. Larson, E. Lyons and J. Pokorski. 2005. Development of a decision support tool for sustainable urban water development. Poster presented at the May 2005 Environmental Protection Agency's P3: People, Prosperity, and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability, Washington, DC.
Presentations
2006
Larson, K. L., R. M. Edsall and J. Block. 2006. The effects of visual information on environmental understanding: Awareness and perceptions of water and heat problems in metropolitan Arizona. Presented at the September, 2006 Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, Eugene, OR.
Thesis (Masters)
2006
Block, J. 2006. 3-D visulation for water resources planning and for Salt River paleo-geomorphology in central Arizona. MS thesis. Arizona State University.