SIRJ Lab

The Stormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice (SIRJ) Lab focuses on infrastructural justice for stormwater management and resilience. Established in 2019 by Associate Professor Marccus Hendricks, the lab studies urban stormwater and flooding, emphasizing the socio-spatial dynamics of water infrastructure and green spaces. Dr. Priscila Alves has served as lab manager since 2021 and works closely with research projects and mentoring and supervising students. 

Research addresses flood risks and adaptation strategies, highlighting challenges faced by lower-income communities. The lab uses a social vulnerability and environmental justice framework to understand risks and promote participatory action for sustainable community design. The goal is to ensure vulnerable communities who are prone to flood risks and inadequate stormwater infrastructure receive the support and fair treatment for a resilient future. The SIRJ Lab has vast experience in research projects and topics related to infrastructure, flooding, equity, social and environmental justice in the U.S. and internationally. 

The SIRJ Lab's funding sources include UMD’s Sustainability Fund and Grand Challenge Grants, the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Academies' Gulf Research Program, the JPB Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The lab engages students and faculty across various disciplines such as civil and environmental engineering, environmental science and technology, public health, plant sciences and others.