Keith Pezzoli - Research

Research

My research goals are to advocate Bioregional Imagination and justice in teaching, research, and action. Bioregional Imagination is as much historical and cultural as it is economic and ecological. The Bioregional action agendas that I concentrate on most include:

1. Transitioning to Climate-Friendly, Resilient, and Regenerative Development: Couple human and natural systems in planning, design, and development that is socio-ecologically and culturally rooted in just and healthy placemaking. This includes co-evolving land ethics and land management needed to improve urban-rural relations.

2. Democratizing Science, Policy-making, and Planning: Establish trusted community-university relationships and projects that propagate bi-directional flows of knowledge, learning, and resources--among students, researchers, and diverse community participants--in equitable, inclusive, and demos-strengthening ways.

3. Fostering Equity in Information and Communication Technologies: Bridge the digital divide between universities and underserved communities in matters of public concern and justice. This includes creating new means of cyber-social connectivity for well-informed participatory planning; effective research communication using data visualization and storytelling; and inclusive decision-making processes that are equitable and diverse.

Research Projects

Bioregional Center

2024 - Present

The Bioregional Center for Sustainability Science, Planning and Design (Bioregional Center) is one of UC San Diego’s Frontiers in Innovation Center Start-Up Grantees. The Bioregional Center is based in the Social Sciences with a strong commitment to collaborating across divisions, centers, and departments. The Bioregional Center cultivates university-community partnerships, knowledge networks, youth leadership, and livelihood opportunities for making "Healthy Places, Healthy People, Healthy Communities.” The Bioregional Center concentrates its efforts on the Southern California-Northern Baja California, San Diego-Tijuana binational city-region.

View the US-Mexico Border Research Initiatives
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UC Global Food Initiative

2024 - Present

Former UC President Janet Napolitano, together with UC’s 10 chancellors, launched the UC Global Food Initiative in July 2014. Building on existing efforts and creating new collaborations among UC’s 10 campuses, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and UC’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the initiative draws on UC’s leadership in the fields of agriculture, medicine, nutrition, climate science, public policy, social science, biological science, humanities, arts, and law, among others. Its focus is both external, such as how UC translates research into policy and helps communities eat more sustainably, and internal, such as how UC leverages its collective buying power and dining practices to create desirable policies and outcomes. (Source)

Pezzoli serves on the Senior Advisory Council for the UC Systemwide UC GFI. This Advisory Council published a Model 2.0 Framework for the UC GFI with a focus on research. As a part of this effort, all ten campuses have established a CAMPUS COLLABORATIVE CENTER (CCC). Pezzoli leads the UC San Diego CCC.

View the UC Global Food Initiative Model 2.0 Research Framework
Download the UC Global Food Initiative Campus Collaborative Statement of Purpose
Download the UC Global Food Initiative Campus Collaborative Guidelines

Superfund Research Center at UC San Diego

2000 - 2022

The Superfund Research Center (SRC) at UC San Diego (2000-2022) aims to understand and improve conditions for/with people living in disadvantaged neighborhoods where there are high levels of obesity, poverty, poor nutrition, and health disparities, exacerbated by exposures to environmental toxicants that put them at greater risk for illness and cancer.

The SRC has a Community Engagement Core and a Research Translation Core (Led by Keith Pezzoli), see details below. The SRC also brings in additional support in the form of supplemental grants, Pezzoli plays a role in two of these.

MetroLab Network: City of San Diego-UC San Diego Action Research Partnership

2015 - 2017

The MetroLab Network was launched in September 2015 as part of a nationwide Smart Cities Initiative. Membership (as of Spring 2017) includes 38 cities, 4 counties, and 51 universities The MetroLab Network’s mission is to strengthen innovative, problem-solving, solutions-oriented, city-university partnerships nationwide. The partnership between the City of San Diego and the University of California, San Diego has several interconnected projects (transportation, big data analytics and modeling, green infrastructure, and urban agriculture).

The Green Infrastructure and Urban Agriculture project described here is developing participatory planning and decision support systems (e.g., mapping, scenario planning, and spatial analytics) to strengthen the capacity of residents, municipalities, public agencies, developers, and tribes to select the most suitable locations for green infrastructure and urban agriculture.

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Featured Writings

A Community-University Partnership: Coupling Bioregional Theory, Research, and Action

By Keith Pezzoli, Leslie Lewis, Paul Watson, Bill Oswald, and Ilya Zaslavsky

2020

On January 29, 2016, the University of California, San Diego, Office of Research Affairs, competitively awarded a Frontiers of Innovation Start-Up Grant to the Bioregional Center for Sustainability Science, Planning and Design. A group of faculty and scientists joined forces with a non-profit social and environmental justice organization, the Global Action Research Center, to pitch the proposed Bioregional Center. The co-authors of this article led the effort with many allies on and off the UC San Diego campus. We argued that the Bioregional Center would form a community-university partnership equipped to strengthen the role of community science in planning and design for sustainable, territorially integrated, urban and rural development. Community science is a civically engaged approach to doing scientific inquiry and discovery that “flips the community-university dynamic, asking communities to identify civic priorities ripe for innovation and then to partner with researchers to address those priorities" (National Science Foundation). This article briefly outlines radical praxis conducted by our Bioregional Center’s Community-University Partnership and a few lessons learned thus far.

Link to full text.

Insurgencies and Revolutions: Reflections on John Friedmann's Contributions to Theory and Practice

"The Bioregionalization of Survival: Sustainability Science and the Rooted Community"

By Keith Pezzoli

2017

Over the past six or more decades, John Friedmann has been an insurgent force in the field of urban and regional planning, transforming it from its traditional state-centered concern for establishing social and spatial order into a radical domain of collaborative action between state and civil society for creating ‘the good society’ in the present and future. By opening it up to theoretical engagement with a wide range of disciplines, Friedmann’s contributions have revolutionized planning as a transdisciplinary space of critical thinking, social learning, and reflective practice. Insurgencies and Revolutions brings together former students, close research associates, and colleagues of John Friedmann to reflect on his contributions to planning theory and practice. The volume is organized around five broad themes where Friedmann’s contributions have risen to challenge established paradigms and generated the space for revolutionary thinking and action in urban and regional planning – Theorising hope; Economic development and regionalism; World cities and the Good city; Social learning, empowered communities, and citizenship; and Chinese cities. The essays by the authors reflect their engagement with his ideas and the new directions in which they have taken these in their work in planning theory and practice.

Link to full text.

Human Settlements and Planning for Ecological Sustainability: The Case of Mexico City

By Keith Pezzoli

2000

The heart of the book is the story of what happened when residents of Mexico City's Ajusco settlements fought relocation by proposing that the areas be transformed into productive ecology settlements.

In many areas of the world, environmental degradation in and around human settlements is undermining prospects for both socioeconomic justice and ecological sustainability. To explore the issues involved in this worldwide problem, Keith Pezzoli focuses on a dramatic instance of conflict that grew out of the unauthorized penetration of human settlements into the Ajusco greenbelt zone, a vital part of Mexico City's ecological reserve. The Mexican government's initial response to these "irregular" human settlements was contradictory and reactive. Social unrest, ecological deterioration, and violence have all been part of the continuing crisis. The heart of the book is the story of what happened when residents of Los Belvederes, a group of Ajusco settlements, fought relocation by proposing that Los Belvederes be transformed into Colonias Ecolthe bo Productivas, or productive ecology settlements. Through innovative organized resistance, their grass-roots movement generated environmental and social action that eventually won crucial state support. Pezzoli draws upon urban and regional planning theory and practice to examine biophysical as well as ethical and social sides of the story, and he uses the Mexican experience to identify planning strategies to link economy, ecology, and community in sustainable development. Foreword by John Friedmann.

Bioregional Imagination & Justice

By Keith Pezzoli

The 2016 UN-Habitat World Cities Report documents how cities around the world are growing unsustainably in ways that undermine the ability of people to meet a wide range of basic needs. Humanity is in the grip of increasingly serious social, economic and ecological problems (e.g., global climate change, health disparities, and food-water-energy insecurities). Scientists and researchers dedicate considerable effort to understanding and/or trying to solve these problems. But science and technology do not necessarily improve our health and well-being or progress as a species. Our science and technology unfolds in contested, highly uneven/unequal ways that generate great wealth and deep disparities.

Publications

Journal Articles

Stadnick, Nicole A., Kelli L. Cain, William Oswald, Paul Watson, Marina Ibarra, Raphael Lagoc, Lawrence O. Ayers, Linda Salgin, Shelia L. Broyles, Louise C. Laurent, Keith Pezzoli, and Borsika Rabin. 2022. "Co-creating a Theory of Change to advance COVID-19 testing and vaccine uptake in underserved communities." Health Services Research n/a (n/a). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13910.
Tiliouine, Oliver, and Keith Pezzoli. 2023. "Climate-Friendly Green Infrastructure Planning and Design: The Promises, Vulnerabilities, and Remediation Design Practices for Environmental Contaminants." In The Routledge companion to ecological design thinking : healthful ecotopian visions for architecture and urbanism, edited by Mitra Kanaani, Ch. 4.6. New York: Routledge.
Pezzoli, K. 2023. "Forward." In The Routledge companion to ecological design thinking : healthful ecotopian visions for architecture and urbanism, edited by Mitra Kanaani. New York: Routledge.
Stadnick, N. A., Cain, K., Oswald, W., Watson, P., Ibarra, M., Lagoc, R., Pezzoli, K., Laurent, L.C., Tukey, R., & Rabin, B. (2022). Engaging underserved communities in COVID-19 health equity implementation research: An analysis of community engagement resource needs and costs. Frontiers in Health Services. Advanced online publication. doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2022.850427. 2022. "Engaging underserved communities in COVID-19 health equity implementation research: An analysis of community engagement resource needs and costs."
Rabinowitz Bussell, Mirle, Leslie R.Lewis, Kelsey Lindner, Keith Pezzoli, William T. Oswald and Paul Watson. 2021. "A Bridge to Civic Empowerment: A Rooted University Approach to creating equitable university –community partnerships and just power relations." In Learning from Arnstein's ladder : from citizen participation to public engagement, edited by Mickey Lauria and Carissa Slotterback, 271-288. New York, NY: Routledge.
Cooper, Andrew M.; Didra Felix, Fatima Alcantara, Ilya Zaslavsky, Amy Work, Paul Watson, Keith Pezzoli, Qi Yu, Dan Zhu, Alexander J. Scavo, Yasman Zarabi, Yasman, Julian Schroeder. Monitoring and mitigation of toxic heavy metals and arsenic accumulation in food crops: A case study of an urban community garden. Plant Direct, 2020. 4(1): p. e00198.
Keith Pezzoli. 2018. “Civic Infrastructure for Neighborhood Planning.” Journal of the American Planning Association, 84:2, 191-193, DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2018.1424559
Rabinowitz Bussell, James Bliesner, and Keith Pezzoli. 2017. "UC pursues rooted research with a nonprofit, links the many benefits of community gardens." California Agriculture 71 (3):139-147. doi: 10.3733/ca.2017a0029.
Pezzoli, K. and Allen Leiter Robert. 2016. "Creating Healthy and Just Bioregions." Reviews on Environmental Health, 103-109.
Al-Delaimy, Wael, Catherine Larsen, and Keith Pezzoli. 2014. "Differences in Health Symptoms among Residents Living Near Illegal Dump Sites in Los Laureles Canyon, Tijuana, Mexico: A Cross Sectional Survey." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11 (9):9532.
Pezzoli, K., Justine Kozo, Karen Ferran, Wilma Wooten, Gudelia Rangel Gomez, and Wael K. Al-Delaimy. 2014. “One Bioregion/One Health: An Integrative Narrative for Transboundary Planning Along the US–Mexico Border”, Global Society, 28: 419-40. Available for download at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/.VCkjJBaF45s
Pezzoli, K., Kerry Williams, and Sean Kriletich. 2011. “A Manifesto for Progressive Ruralism in an Urbanizing World”, Progressive Planning, 186, Winter: 16-19.
Hayden, Dolores, Charles Hoch, Bish Sanyal, Ann Forsyth, Hemalata Dandekar, Keith Pezzoli, James A. Throgmorton, and Martin Wachs. 2010. Peter Marris (1927–2007): Planning in an International Context. Planning Theory & Practice 11:269 - 296.
Pezzoli, Keith, Michael Hibbard, and Laura Huntoon. 2008. "Introduction to Symposium: Is Progressive Regionalism an Actionable Framework for Critical Planning Theory and Practice?" Journal of Planning Education and Research 28 (3):336-340. doi: 10.1177/0739456X08329711.
Pezzoli, K., Tukey R, Sarabia H, Zaslavsky I, Miranda ML, Suk WA, Lin A, Ellisman M. 2007. “The NIEHS Environmental Health Sciences Data Resource Portal: Placing Advanced Technologies in Service to Vulnerable Communities.” Environ Health Prospect: doi:10.1289/ehp.9817. [Online 22 January 2007] http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2007/9817/abstract.html
Pezzoli, Keith. 2002. "Science and Technology for Sustainability: North American Challenges and Lessons." The Journal of Environment & Development 11 (3):304-306. doi: 10.1177/107049602237160.
Afshar, Farokh, and Keith Pezzoli. 2001. "Guest Editors’ Introduction: Integrating Globalization and Planning." Journal of Planning Education and Research 20 (3):277-280. doi: 10.1177/0739456X0102000301.
Pezzoli, Keith, and Deborah Howe. 2001. "Planning Pedagogy and Globalization: A Content Analysis of Syllabi." Journal of Planning Education and Research 20 (3):365-375. doi: 10.1177/0739456X0102000308.
Pezzoli, K. 2000. “Environmental Management Systems and Regulatory Innovation.” California Western Law Review, 36 (2): 3 35-366.
Tate, John, Yacob Mulugetta, Richard Sharland, Peter Hills, Henk Voogd, Keith Pezzoli, John Tate, and Yacob Mulugetta. 1998. "POLICY FORUM: Sustainability: the technocentric challenge." Town Planning Review 69 (1):65. doi: 10.3828/tpr.69.1.tv3426302m1187m2.
Tate, John, Yacob Mulugetta, Richard Sharland, Peter Hills, Henk Voogd and Keith Pezzoli. 1998. "Policy Forum: Sustainability: The Technocentric Challenge [with Comments]." The Town Planning Review 69(1):65-86.
Pezzoli, K. 1997. "Sustainable Development: A Transdisciplinary Overview of the Literature." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 40 (5): 549-574.
Pezzoli, Keith. 1987. "The Urban Land Problem and Popular Sector Housing Development in Mexico City." Environment and Behavior 19 (3):371-397. doi: 10.1177/0013916587193007.

Book Chapters

Rabinowitz Bussell, M., Leslie R.Lewis, Kelsey Lindner, Keith Pezzoli, William T. Oswald and Paul Watson., A Bridge to Civic Empowerment: A Rooted University Approach to creating equitable university –community partnerships and just power relations., in Learning from Arnstein's ladder : from citizen participation to public engagement, M. Lauria and C. Slotterback, Editors. 2021, Routledge: New York, NY. p. 271-288.

Pezzoli, Keith. 2019a. "Local Solutions." In Bending the Curve: Climate Change Solutions, Chap. 19., edited by V. Ramanathan, Adam Millard-Ball;, Michelle Niemann and Scott Friese. Regents of the University of California. Open Access Ebook available at https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6kr8p5rq
Pezzoli, Keith. 2019b. "Local Solutions." In Learning Companion to Bending the Curve: Climate Change Solutions, Chap. 19, edited by V. Ramanathan, Adam Millard-Ball;, Michelle Niemann and Scott Friese. Regents of the University of California. Open Access Ebook available at https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2b80d2k2
Pezzoli, Keith. 2017. "The bioregionalization of survival: Sustainability science and rooted community." In Insurgencies and Revolutions: Reflections on John Friedmann's Contributions to Planning Theory and Practice., edited by Haripriya Rangan, Mee Kam Ng and Libby Porter, 84-95. NY, NY: Routledge.
Forman, Fonna, Gina Solomon, Rachel Morello-Frosch, and Keith Pezzoli. 2016. "Bending the Curve and Closing the Gap: Climate Justice and Public Health." Collabra 2 (1) (Original Research Report, Chap. 8 in Special Collection: Bending the Curve: Ten scalable solutions for carbon neutrality and climate stability). https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.67
Hecht, Susanna B., Keith Pezzoli, and Sassan Saatchi. 2016. "Trees have Already been Invented: Carbon in Woodlands." Collabra 2 (1) (Original Research Report, Chap. 10 in Special Collection: Bending the Curve: Ten scalable solutions for carbon neutrality and climate stability). https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.69
Pezzoli, K. 2016. “Bioregionalism.” In Keywords for Environmental Studies, edited by Joni Adamson, William Gleason, David Pellow. NY: New York University Press.
Pezzoli, Keith, and Mirle Rabinowitz Bussell. 2012. Action Oriented Research and the Scholarship of Engagement: Lessons learned from the Urban Studies and Planning Program at UC San Diego. In D. Forbes, J. Lin, and E. Losh (eds). Education in Action: Experiential Learning in Higher Education, pp. 195-205. Book Section.
Pezzoli, K. 2006. Cross-Border Regionalism and Sustainability: Contributions of Critical Regional Ecology. Pp. 63-94 in Equity and Sustainable Development Regional Reflections from the U.S.-Mexico Border, edited by J. Clough-Riquelme and N. Bringas Rábago, U.S.-Mexico Contemporary Perspectives Series, 24. La Jolla, CA: Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, University of California, San Diego.
Pezzoli, Keith. 2004. "Prologo." [Foreword] Pp.7-12 in Desarrollo sostenible y huella ecologica [Sustainable Development and Ecological Footprint], edited by F. Martín Palmero. A Coruna, Spain: Netbiblo, S.L.
Pezzoli, K. 2002. Sustainability, Livelihood, and Community Mobilization in the Ajusco Ecological Reserve, In Livable Cities: The Politics of Urban Livelihood and Sustainability, edited by Peter Evans, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 195-222.
Pezzoli, K. 2000. “From Pollution Prevention to Industrial Ecology,” In Shared Space: Rethinking the U.S.-Mexico Border Environment, edited by Lawrence A. Herzog. La Jolla: Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies (pp. 41-74).
Pezzoli, K. 1995. Mexico's Urban Housing Environments: Economic and Ecological Challenges of the 1990s. In Housing the Urban Poor: Policy and Practice in Developing Countries, edited by Aldrich, B. C. and Singh Sandhu, R. London: Sage Publications: 140-167.
Pezzoli, K. 1993. Sustainable Livelihoods in the Urban Milieu: A Case Study from Mexico City. In Defense of Livelihood: Comparative Studies on Environmental Action, edited by John Friedmann and Haripriya Rangan. West Hartford, Conn.: UNRISD and Kumarian Press: 127-154.
Pezzoli, K. 1991. "Environmental Conflicts in the Urban Milieu: The Case of Mexico City." In Goodmann, D. and Redclift, M. [eds.] Environment and Development in Latin America. Manchester: Manchester University Press. (pp. 205-229).

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