Heather Lazrus

Heather Lazrus is a project scientist in the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Laboratory at NCAR in Boulder, Colorado. She is an environmental anthropologist and uses the theories and methods in the anthropological toolkit to investigate the cultural mechanisms through which all weather and climate risks are perceived, experienced, and addressed. Lazrus focuses on the interface between extreme weather and climate change and works closely with colleagues from diverse disciplines. Her research contributes to improving the utility of weather forecasts and warnings, reducing social vulnerability to atmospheric and related hazards, and understanding community and cultural adaptations to climate change. Lazrus has worked extensively in Tuvalu, New Zealand, and the United States. Heather obtained a PhD in anthropology from the University of Washington in 2009.