Alistair Hayden Headshot

Alistair Hayden

Professor of Public & Ecosystem Health, Cornell University
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About Alistair

Hayden's research focuses on disasters and the environment. Overarching themes in Hayden's writings include the health impacts of wildfire smoke and other environmental hazards, equity in emergency management, and policy development. Hayden serves local, state, and federal policymakers by helping link current research with policymaking.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | Member Spotlight | In the News | Publications

Contributions

Heat Waves Need FEMA’s Help

Commentary,

In the News

Quoted by Blaine Friedlander in "Cornell Dashboard Estimates Mortality Risk of Wildfire Smoke," Cornell Chronicle, July 10, 2024.
Quoted by Ivan Pereira in "New York City’s ‘Smoke Wave’ Response Time for Warnings Criticized," ABC News, July 7, 2023.
Quoted by Debra Kahn in "The West Coaster’s Guide to Wildfire Season," Politico, June 9, 2023.
Quoted by Marquise Francis in "Why the Wildfire Smoke Affects the Health of Poor People and Communities of Color the Most," Yahoo News, June 8, 2023.

Publications

"Tracking and Preventing the Health Impacts of Extreme Heat" (with Nathaniel Hupert, Vivian Lam, Rebecca Morgenstern Brenner, and Amie Patchen), Federation of American Scientists, April 2024.

Highlights the need for urgent action in response to increasing deaths caused by extreme weather events, such as heat waves, extreme cold, and wildfire smoke. Proposes ways to update the existing health surveillance system, which was initially established to monitor for bioterrorism in the 2000s, for modern climate and weather threats.

"Defining Disaster: Incorporating Heat Waves and Smoke Waves Into Disaster Policy" (with Sarah M. Bassett, Grace Wickerson, Rebecca Morgenstern Brenner, Amie Patchen, and Nathanial Hupert), Federation of American Scientists, April 2024.

Focuses on the inadequacies of current U.S. disaster policy in addressing extreme heat and similar people-centered disasters and suggests policies and programs that are necessary to upgrade national emergency management for the modern and future era.

"A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Extreme Heat in Schools" (with Rebecca Morgenstern Brenner, Amie Patchen, Nathaniel Hupert, and Grace Wikerson), Federation of American Scientists, April 2024.

Proposes federal actions to better protect students from the impacts of extreme heat.

"Save Lives by Making Smoke Tracking a Core Part of Wildland Fire Management", Federation of American Scientists, June 2023.

Discusses the importance of improving the United States' response to wildfire smoke, emphasizing the need for better tracking of the health impacts. Proposes specific Congressional actions to achieve this over the short and longer term.