Elizabeth Jane Wesley
Data Scientist, Urban Surfaces and Extreme Heat, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Elizabeth Jane Wesley is a Data Scientist on the Urban Data & Tools team in the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and is affiliated with the WRI Data Lab. Her research focuses on measuring and mapping surface characteristics of urban areas and analyzing how these characteristics influence the distribution of extreme heat.
Prior to beginning work at WRI, Elizabeth completed a Ph.D. in Geography at the University of Kansas. Her dissertation research took an environmental justice approach to understanding the relationship between public health and urban environments. She and her interdisciplinary team found that increased greenspace in high-pollution neighborhoods—in particular neighborhoods of color—was associated with decreased rates of acute pediatric asthma.
Elizabeth additionally holds an M.S. in Geography and a Master's of Urban Planning from the University of Kansas and a B.S. in Geographic Information Science from Texas State University.
Elizabeth lives in Washington, D.C. with her two cats and enjoys traveling, outdoor recreation, and anything food related.
Projects
Data for Cool Cities
Visit ProjectFilling data gaps, enabling insights and scaling infrastructure investment to reduce extreme heat in cities.
Part of CitiesUrban Development
Visit ProjectCreating livable neighborhoods that build resilience, improve health, and equitably connect people and opportunities.
Part of Cities