Nina R. Brooks

Assistant Professor

Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health

About me

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. My research interests lie at the intersection of environment, health, and development economics. My current research examines the environmental and health consequences of brick manufacturing in Bangladesh, how extreme heat affects fertility in sub-Saharan Africa, and the impacts of abortion policies on women’s health and economic outcomes. My research employs a range of disciplinary approaches from economics, demography, data science, geography, and epidemiology.

Before joining BUSPH, I was an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut. I completed my PhD at Stanford University in the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. I also hold an MA in Economics from Stanford University, a Master of Public Policy from Duke University, with a certificate in International Development, and a BA in International Political Economy from UC Berkeley. Previously, I worked as a Senior Research Analyst at NORC at the University of Chicago and Manager of Global Affairs for Global Footprint Network.

Education

PhD in Environment and Resources, 2020

Stanford University
MA in Economics, 2019

Stanford University
Master of Public Policy, 2014

Duke University
BA in Political Economy, 2009

UC Berkeley

Publications

Health consequences of small-scale industrial pollution: Evidence from the brick sector in Bangladesh

The adverse health impacts of air pollution have been widely documented, yet there is little empirical evidence on the externalities of the brick manufacturing industry industry. We conducted a field study in Bangladesh to quantify the contribution of brick kilns to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and respiratory health. We exploit variation in the timing of brick production, seasonal wind direction, and household proximity to kilns to isolate the effects of brick manufacturing from other sources of air pollution. Our findings suggest that existing regulations, which require that kilns be at least 1–2 km from residential areas, schools, and health facilities, are inadequate to protect nearby communities from the substantial health burden brick manufacturing imposes.

N. Brooks, D. Biswas, R. Hossin, A. Yu, S. Saha, S. Saha, S. Saha, S. Luby

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Health consequences of small-scale industrial pollution: Evidence from the brick sector in Bangladesh

Investigating the Relationship Between Growing Season Quality and Childbearing Goals

We use rich, spatially referenced data from the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) individual surveys with detailed information on childbearing preferences and family planning decisions. Building on recent advances in remote monitoring of seasonal agriculture, we construct multiple vegetation measures capturing different dimensions of growing season conditions across varying time frames. Overall, our findings suggest that, in some settings, women strategically respond to growing season conditions by adjusting fertility aspirations or family planning use.

N. Brooks, K. Grace, D. Kristiansen, S. Shukla, M. Brown

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Investigating the Relationship Between Growing Season Quality and Childbearing Goals

Scalable deep learning to identify brick kilns and aid regulatory capacity

Monitoring compliance with environmental regulations is a global challenge. It is particularly difficult for governments in low-income countries, where informal industry is responsible for a large amount of pollution, because the governments lack the ability to locate and monitor large numbers of dispersed polluters. This study demonstrates an accurate, scalable machine learning approach for identifying brick kilns, a highly polluting informal industry in Bangladesh, in satellite imagery.Our data reveal widespread violations of the national regulations governing brick manufacturing, which has implications for the health and well-being of the country. Our approach offers a low-cost, replicable method for regulatory agencies to generate information on key pollution sources.

J. Lee, N. Brooks, F. Tajwar, M. Burke, S. Ermon, D. Lobell, D. Biswas, S. Luby

PDF Data & Code BBC Digital Planet Dhaka Tribune

Scalable deep learning to identify brick kilns and aid regulatory capacity

USA aid policy and induced abortion in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of the Mexico City Policy

We empirically examined patterns of modern contraception use, pregnancies, and abortion among women in 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa in response to the reinstatement and subsequent repeal of the Mexico City Policy across three presidential administrations (Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama). Our findings suggest that curbing US assistance to family planning organisations, especially those that consider abortion as a method of family planning, increases abortion prevalence in sub-Saharan African countries most affected by the policy.

N. Brooks, E. Bendavid, G. Miller

PDF Op-Ed NPR The Guardian The New Republic Gizmodo

USA aid policy and induced abortion in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of the Mexico City Policy

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