Health | The Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Where the individual and policy collide, our health research and coverage seeks to document and improve.

Latest Urban Edge Stories

Without mask mandates, Texas undermines school districts' efforts to undo pandemic learning gaps

The Texas Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on local mask mandates means the state has officially told public schools to start the 2021-2022 school year as if the COVID-19 pandemic never happened. More correctly, as if it was still not happening. Others have already pointed to the health risks posed by not having a mask mandate in place at schools, and schools around the Houston area have already had to close because of outbreaks. But beyond the dangers posed to the health of students, staff, and families, the state’s approach is undermining schools’ ability to accelerate students’ learning and close gaps created and compounded over the past 18 months.

Perspective

: Aug 30, 2021

COVID-19 and Cities, Education, Health

Understanding the unvaccinated: A look at hesitancy as well as access

The Delta variant has led to COVID-19’s fourth wave—a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. More than any other factor, what's driving this is the number of unvaccinated people—who either by choice or by design are not getting shots. Because vaccine hesitancy and access varies across states and cities, local solutions might be key to closing the gap.

COVID-19 and Cities, Health

How Houston plans to plant 4.6 million new trees by 2030

Trees can cool our cities and make them more resilient. Here’s a look at what is being done to grow and protect the urban forest in the Houston area.

Health, Hurricane Harvey, Urban Planning

Latest Research

Kinder Houston Area Survey: 2021 Results

For the past four decades, Rice University’s Kinder Houston Area Survey (KHAS) has been tracking the changing attitudes and beliefs of Harris County residents. The 2021 survey summarizes the most consequential changes and their implications for public policy initiatives going forward.

Report: May 11, 2021

COVID-19 and Cities, Demographics, Economic Development, Education, Governance, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Immigration, Placemaking, Transportation

A Bottom-Up Infrastructure Strategy for American Renewal

This report identifies infrastructure priorities identified by local and regional leaders around the nation. Conclusions provide an important set of guideposts about priorities the new administration should take into account in crafting a national infrastructure strategy.

Report: Feb 10, 2021

COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Education, Governance, Health, Housing, Transportation, Urban Planning

Texas Flood Registry 2020 Report

This report includes updates on Harvey’s long-term impact and recent findings about the health and housing effects of the May 2019 storms and Tropical Storm Imelda.

Report: Aug 25, 2020

Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey

Experts

Katherine Bennett Ensor

Kinder Fellow
Director, Kinder Institute Urban Data Platform
Noah G. Harding Professor of Statistics
Rice University

713-348-4132

Loren Hopkins

Kinder Fellow
Chief Environmental Science Officer, Houston Health Department
Professor in the Practice, Statistics, Rice University

Profile

Rachel Kimbro

Dean, School of Social Sciences Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences
Kinder Fellow
Professor of Sociology
Founding Director, Kinder Institute Urban Health Program
Rice University

rtkimbro@rice.edu

713-348-4265

Tony N. Brown

Kinder Fellow
Professor of Sociology, Rice University
Associate Director, Kinder Institute’s Urban Health Program
Founding Director, Racism and Racial Experiences (RARE) Workgroup

tnbrown@rice.edu

713-348-3242