International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Interview with the Author—Dr. Liv Yoon

Name: Dr. Liv Yoon
Affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

“Responding to the Heat and Planning for the Future: An Interview-Based Inquiry of People with Schizophrenia Who Experienced the 2021 Heat Dome in Canada”
by Liv Yoon, Emily J. Tetzlaff, Carson Wong, Tiffany Chiu, Lucy Hiscox, Samantha Mew, Dominique Choquette, Glen P. Kenny and Christian G. Schütz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081108
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/8/1108

The following is an interview with Dr. Liv Yoon:

1. Congratulations on your published paper! Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself and your research for our readers?
Sure! My name is Liv Yoon, and I’m an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. My background is in social sciences, which might surprise some because many people associate kinesiology with physiology, biomechanics, or neuroanatomy. But there’s also a sociocultural side to kinesiology, which looks at human movement in a broader context—how our different ‘bodies’ (different groups of people) are both shaped by, and shape, social, cultural, political, and historical contexts. When we walk into a room, we’re not just bodies made of bones and muscles; we carry with us our cultural identities, socioeconomic status, and ethnic backgrounds, all of which shape our experiences and how others perceive us.

2. What inspired you to pursue this field of research?
My current work explores the intersection of climate change, health, and social inequities, with a focus on intersections with the housing crisis as well. I’m particularly focused on how climate change disproportionately impacts people who are already facing social and economic hardships. It's those in low-income neighborhoods, racialized communities, and marginalized groups who suffer the most from climate-related risks. I’m motivated by a mix of feelings—resentment, anger—but also admiration for the resilience of these communities who, despite their struggles, continue to work for the benefit of all. I believe these emotions can be a powerful force for social change. I also want to emphasize that to truly understand these issues, we need to go beyond the biomedical and physiological views of health and incorporate social and political understandings of bodies and health.

3. How is your research going so far?
I’m a relatively new professor, having started in January 2023, so I’m still in the early stages of several projects. A lot of my work involves community engagement and participatory methods, working directly with those most affected. It’s humbling, and also energizing. The issues are urgent, and while it can feel overwhelming, it’s also motivating to see people—including students—respond with action instead of despair.

4. What do you hope readers will take away from your paper?
For people living with schizophrenia, in particular, the paper challenges the usual biomedical understanding of thermoregulation. I want to highlight that those living with schizophrenia, live with multiple forms of marginalization and discrimination that affect how they experience climate change. I hope readers come away understanding that health impacts from climate change are not just about biology but are deeply intertwined with social inequities. We need to consider the whole person and their life context, and how these are shaped by societal, structural forces.

5. What advances would you like to see in your field over the next decade?
I hope we see more efforts to connect the dots between various social inequities and the climate crisis. In Vancouver, for example, there’s a big intersection between the housing crisis and climate vulnerability. Affordable housing is often the least climate-resilient, and those living in it typically also face other forms of marginalization. Addressing these issues isn’t just about solving one problem—it’s about understanding how these crises intersect and finding solutions that address multiple needs at once.

6. What made you choose to publish in IJERPH, and how was your experience with the journal?
I’ve been a long-time reader of IJERPH, and I know the journal publishes high-quality research. There was no question that we wanted to submit here. The publication process was fantastic. The reviewers and editors were very responsive, and the turnaround was quick—everything was done in less than two or three months. Overall, it was a really positive experience.

We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Liv Yoon and her research group for choosing IJERPH as the platform to publish their research. Submissions and inputs related to the area of health promotion and health presentation are welcomed by our journal.