Research Interests - Bernardo Salazar

Hi Everyone,

My name is Bernardo Salazar and I'm pursuing a master’s degree in urban and regional planning because it provides the creative freedom, along with a diverse set of tools, to address social issues.  More specifically, I'm interested in using Geographic Information Systems - the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and computer science - to better understand how low-income communities navigate the myriad of social service programs designed by policymakers as a way out of poverty.
 
As Congress moves forward to resolve our nation's federal budget woes, the burden will fall on low-income families in the form of massive cuts to domestic spending.  Given this stark reality, it behooves us to innovate and re-imagine the role social institutions - such as schools, families, religious institutions, and the economy - play in promoting opportunity.

For my research topic, I'll be looking at the potential impact of incorporating Big Data and Open Data in urban planning research.  It is my belief that urban planning's multidisciplinary approach to research can greatly benefit from analyzing massive data sets to mine insights on poverty and other related social issues such as health, jobs, and education.

So, why am I interested in fighting and/or addressing poverty?

The answer is simple: I can't picture myself doing anything else.
 
I was born into a farm working family in Fresno, California - so I have an intimate understanding of what it is to be poor, invisible, and disconnected from the mainstream.  But I've also lived in different parts of the country, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Reno.  These places, each with its own personality, provided a frame of reference to juxtapose my experience growing up in different parts of the Central Valley.  In the end, I've realized that place matters.  The question now is, for me at least, what then must we do?