NIU anthropologist seeks global outcomes from disaster preparedness research in Haiti, Cuba

DEKALB, IL - As communities hit by natural disasters debrief together and share knowledge, responses to hazards can become less haphazard around the globe.

Building on two-plus decades of research in the Caribbean, Northern Illinois University's Mark Schuller puts such collective forethought into action to mitigate the unthinkable. Surprisingly similar logistical lessons appear across an array of increasingly extreme environmental events - from wildfires to earthquakes, tornadoes to hurricanes.

"The urgency surrounding this subject makes our research deadly serious," Schuller said. "But the takeaway is that people are imagining tomorrow, and working to build this tomorrow, which continues to inspire me."

This summer, the anthropology professor and director of NIU's Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies connected scholars and humanitarian organizations in Haiti and Cuba. Schuller arranged a Cuban delegation to offer the first of three yearly public conferences in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. Funded by a $284,044 National Science Foundation grant, this recently launched project seeks open-access solutions.

"We need to not just give in charity, but solidarity. We have much to learn from Haiti as a canary in the coal mine," Schuller said. "If you want to know the future of climate change in DeKalb, in Sycamore, in Elgin, in Aurora, in Chicago - you should pay attention to what's happening in Haiti. It's their present reality in Hurricane Alley, and our possible future here in Tornado Alley."

Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, killed close to a hundred people last month - mostly in Haiti and Jamacia, where the hurricane was the strongest-ever to make landfall. Cuba recorded no initial deaths.

"Some of the media coverage in the U.S. has focused only on Jamacia, but I think we need to also turn our attention toward Haiti given the equivalent loss of life there, as well as toward Cuba's successful strategies for civil defense," Schuller said.

Nearly 200 Haitians participated in community resilience planning during Schuller's weeklong conference in June. Workshops viewed Cuban outcomes through a hyperlocal lens focused on key Haiti recovery sectors: education, health, women, the public, agriculture and fisheries.

Schuller previously brought a Haitian delegation to Cuba using funding from a four-year Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry professorship at NIU, awarded in 2022. Beyond putting best practices in place on the ground in Haiti, Schuller is aiming for global outcomes.

"Haiti and Cuba are like photo negatives, and the numbers illustrate a powerful image," Schuller said. "While thousands have lost their lives in Haiti to natural disasters and disease, Cuba is renowned globally by the United Nations as a model for risk reduction."

Media Contact: Jeniece Smith

About NIU

Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. The Wall Street Journal and CollegeNET recognize NIU as a leading institution for social mobility, or helping its students climb the socioeconomic ladder. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.