Bio


Nina Berlin Rubin is a 5th year PhD Candidate in Earth System Science. Nina's research focuses on human behavior and decision-making in the face of climate extremes such as wildfire, wildfire smoke, and coastal hazards.

Education & Certifications


  • B.A., Duke University, Environmental Science and Policy (2017)

All Publications


  • Exploring antecedents to climate migration: sense of place, fear and worry, and experience ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Rubin, N., Garfin, D., Wong-Parodi, G. 2024; 19 (10)
  • Centering equity and sustainability in climate adaptation funding Environmental Research: Climate Berlin Rubin, N., Bower, E. R., Herbert, N., Santos, B. S., Wong-Parodi, G. 2023; 2 (3)

    View details for DOI 10.1088/2752-5295/ace3e9

  • As California burns: the psychology of wildfire- and wildfire smoke-related migration intentions. Population and environment Berlin Rubin, N., Wong-Parodi, G. 2022: 1-31

    Abstract

    Climate change impacts and rapid development in the wildland-urban interface are increasing population exposure and vulnerability to the harmful effects of wildfire and wildfire smoke. The direct and indirect effects of these hazards may impact future mobility decisions among populations at risk. To better understand how perceptions and personal experience inform wildfire- and smoke-associated migration intentions, we surveyed a representative sample of 1108 California residents following the 2020 wildfire season. We assessed the associations between threat appraisal, coping appraisal, personal experience, migration intentions, the impact of wildfire and smoke on migration intentions and place satisfaction, and the potential likelihood of future migration. Results indicate that roughly a third of our sample intended to move in the next 5years, nearly a quarter of whom reported that wildfire and smoke impacted their migration decision at least a moderate amount. Prior negative outcomes (e.g., evacuating, losing property) were associated with intentions to migrate. Perceived susceptibility and prior negative outcomes were associated with a greater impact of wildfire and smoke on migration intentions. For those intending to remain in place, prior negative outcomes were associated with a greater impact of wildfire and smoke on place satisfaction, which was in turn associated with a greater reported likelihood of future migration. Our findings suggest that perceptions of and experiences with wildfire and smoke may impact individual mobility decisions. These insights may be leveraged to inform risk communications and outreach campaigns to encourage wildfire and smoke risk mitigation behaviors and to improve climate migration modeling.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11111-022-00409-w

    View details for PubMedID 36032962

  • Exploring how climate change subjective attribution, personal experience with extremes, concern, and subjective knowledge relate to pro-environmental attitudes and behavioral intentions in the United States JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Wong-Parodi, G., Rubin, N. 2022; 79
  • A path forward for qualitative research on sustainability in the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability science Santana, F. N., Hammond Wagner, C., Berlin Rubin, N., Bloomfield, L. S., Bower, E. R., Fischer, S. L., Santos, B. S., Smith, G. E., Muraida, C. T., Wong-Parodi, G. 2021: 1–7

    Abstract

    The unique strengths of qualitative research, through in-depth inquiry and identification of unexpected themes and linkages, is essential to our growing understanding of COVID-19's impacts on the social world and its intersection with sustainability science. However, many challenges-physical, psychological, and ethical in nature-face qualitative researchers during the pandemic, as social distancing and travel restrictions prevent in-person field work. In this paper, we outline the essential contributions of qualitative study to sustainability science, discuss current challenges, and in turn, provide recommendations for researchers.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11625-020-00894-8

    View details for PubMedID 33495701

  • Process Evaluation of a Community-Based Microbial Larviciding Intervention for Malaria Control in Rural Tanzania. International journal of environmental research and public health Berlin Rubin, N., Mboera, L. E., Lesser, A., Miranda, M. L., Kramer, R. 2020; 17 (19)

    Abstract

    Microbial larviciding can be an effective component of integrated vector management malaria control schemes, although it is not commonly implemented. Moreover, quality control and evaluation of intervention activities are essential to evaluate the potential of community-based larviciding interventions. We conducted a process evaluation of a larval source management intervention in rural Tanzania where local staff were employed to apply microbial larvicide to mosquito breeding habitats with the aim of long-term reductions in malaria transmission. We developed a logic model to guide the process evaluation and then established quantitative indicators to measure intervention success. Quantitative analysis of intervention reach, exposure, and fidelity was performed to assess larvicide application, and interviews with larviciding staff were reviewed to provide context to quantitative results. Results indicate that the intervention was successful in terms of reach, as staff applied microbial larvicide at 80% of identified mosquito breeding habitats. However, the dosage of larvicide applied was sufficient to ensure larval elimination at only 26% of sites, which does not meet the standard set for intervention fidelity. We propose that insufficient training and protocol adaptation, environment and resource issues, and human error contributed to low larvicide application rates. This demonstrates how several small, context-specific details in sum can result in meaningful differences between intervention blueprint and execution. These findings may serve the design of other larval source management interventions by demonstrating the value of additional training, supervision, and measurement and evaluation of protocol adherence.

    View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph17197309

    View details for PubMedID 33036350