Southeast Texas Urban Integrated Field Laboratory
Equitable Solutions for Communities Caught between Floods and Air Pollution
About Us
Southeast Texas Urban Integrated Field Lab (SETx-UIFL) is one of four Urban Integrated Field Laboratories awarded in the Fall 2022 by the Biological and Environmental Research Program, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy. The Southeast Texas region, or the Beaumont-Port Arthur area, represent urban conditions and challenges similar to other Gulf Coast communities with industrial facilities, and population change with fewer resources available than larger cities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to better understand current and future impacts from flooding and air pollution in Southeast Texas and the Gulf Coast region using measurements, modeling, and community experiences and to co-develop applicable and equitable adaptation strategies with local partners.
Our Team
SETX-UIFL team led by the University of Texas at Austin comprises members from Lamar University, Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. We integrate expertise in hydrology, climate science, biogeochemistry, sociology, urban planning, and engineering with localized community knowledge.
Participating Institutions
“Understanding the risks of climate change and extreme weather means understanding the direct and indirect effects on people, their homes, their businesses, and the communities they live in.“
Jennifer Granholm
U.S. Secretary of Energy
News
- Brazil-SETx
Brazil Resilience and Disaster Response and SETx-UIFL Research Exchange Brazil Resilience and Disaster Response and SETx-UIFL Research Exchange September 28th, 2025 | The University of Texas at Austin Juan P. Maestre Some of the participants of the research exchange The Southeast Texas Urban Integrated Field Laboratory (SETx-UIFL) recently hosted a full-day research exchange with distinguished researchers from Brazil’s Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) that exemplified the power of international partnerships in addressing resilience challenges. This event, part of a broader campus visit facilitated by Professor Fernanda Leite, UT Austin’s Interim Vice President for Research and SETx CoPI,… Read more: Brazil-SETx - ESIIL 2025
When Scientists Form, Storm, Norm, and Perform for Climate: My Unconference Experience at ESIIL 2025 When Scientists Form, Storm, Norm, and Perform for Climate: My Unconference Experience at ESIIL 2025 September 29, 2025 | Dr. Juan P. Maestre The Environmental Data Science Innovation and Impact Lab (ESIIL) brought together over 100 researchers, data scientists, and environmental professionals from across disciplines for its third annual Innovation Summit, focusing on “Environmental Tipping Points and Transformations.” As Managing Director of SETx-UIFL and summit participant, I experienced firsthand how this unique unconference format creates space for breakthrough collaboration and innovation in environmental data science.… Read more: ESIIL 2025 - Bridging Communities and Research: Cedric Shy’s Innovative Approach to Outreach
As Program Coordinator for Texas Target Communities, Cedric Shy has become a vital connector in the SETx-UIFL project, turning complex environmental research into meaningful community action. From hosting the “Partnerships with Purpose” podcast to guiding students in creating innovative flood solutions for Port Arthur, his work embodies a simple but powerful philosophy: “It’s not about you. This is someone’s community.” Inspired by his father’s dedication as a community champion in inner-city Houston, Shy demonstrates how sustained presence and authentic relationship-building can bridge the gap between academic research and real community needs in Southeast Texas. - Summer Institute 2025 HighlightsBy Juan P. Maestre The annual three-day Graduate Student Summer Institute held at Lamar University in Beaumont on May 20-22 brought together numerous graduate students from Texas universities for hands-on training in climate resilience and community-based research. Participants from multiple fields including engineering, urban planning, atmospheric sciences, landscape architecture, and sociology collaborated in mixed teams during the program. The institute provided practical, field-based learning experiences including guided neighborhood visits to flood-vulnerable areas and a visit to the Halbouty Pump Station and analyzing local air quality data from a portable monitoring device called “the Sniffer.” A central focus was teaching students… Read more: Summer Institute 2025 Highlights
- Community Flood Watch Program Launches in Orange, Texas
Lamar University and the City of Orange, Texas have launched a first-of-its-kind Community Flood Watch program. Watch Dr. Haselbach presenting it on The Weather Channel.