Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The 2026 Winter Lecture Series at Muskegon Community College (MCC) will continue Monday, March 16, with a presentation examining the connection between climate change, drought, and human health.

Titled “Drought and Health in a Warming World: Global Trends to Regional Gaps,” the lecture will be presented by Dr. Azar Abadi, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Dr. Abadi will discuss how climate change–driven drought is expected to increasingly affect human health worldwide. The presentation will outline global trends such as rising temperatures, prolonged dry periods, and growing water scarcity, and will connect those trends to health outcomes including food insecurity, malnutrition, heat-related illness, respiratory problems, and mental health stress.

“This is an issue that is no longer theoretical and will affect every generation moving forward,” said MCC’s Dr. Andy Wible. “Understanding how drought and climate change impact human health helps students see how global challenges connect directly to their communities and future careers.”

The lecture will also address how drought impacts are not evenly distributed. Communities in low-resource or drought-prone regions often face greater health risks due to limited infrastructure, reduced access to health care, and lower adaptive capacity. The presentation will emphasize the importance of region-specific research, policy responses, and public health strategies to address these gaps.

• WHAT: “Drought and Health in a Warming World: Global Trends to Regional Gaps”
• WHEN: Monday, March 16, 2026, 3:00 pm
• WHERE: Stevenson Center, Room 1300. MCC Main Campus, 221 S. Quarterline Rd.
• COST: Free and Open to the Public

To view previous lectures, visit MCC’s Lecture Series archive at https://www.muskegoncc.edu/lecture-series/.