Nébié Lab is an interdisciplinary research laboratory dedicated to understanding the complex relationships between people and their environments. We focus on how communities experience, respond to, and adapt to environmental change, climate variability, and resource insecurity through culturally grounded and participatory research. Our work blends anthropological methods, spatial science (GIS and remote sensing), and community engagement to generate insights that are both academically rigorous and socially meaningful.
At the core of our approach is the belief that local knowledge and lived experience are essential for understanding human–environment dynamics. We work closely with communities — especially those often overlooked in global research — to co-produce knowledge that informs equitable policy, effective development practice, and sustainable adaptation strategies.
We investigate how environmental changes — including climate variability, land degradation, and ecological shifts — influence human livelihoods and community resilience.
By examining adaptive strategies and governance structures at local and regional scales, the lab partners with stakeholders to advance equitable and informed policy decisions.
Our work combines ethnography, participatory mapping, and remote sensing to understand environmental processes and local knowledge systems from the ground up.
We study the cultural, economic, and ecological drivers of food and water insecurity, focusing on how households and communities respond to stressors like drought, conflict, and climate shocks.
Nébié Lab’s vision is to bridge science, society, and policy by producing research that not only advances academic understanding but also empowers communities and informs sustainable development interventions. Our work champions inclusive approaches that value cultural diversity, local agency, and interdisciplinary collaboration for resilient futures in West Africa and beyond.
Nébié Lab is committed to equity, inclusivity, and methodological innovation. We prioritize meaningful community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the translation of research into practical insights for policymakers, development practitioners, and grassroots partners. By centering local voices and cultural understanding, we aim to contribute to sustainable pathways for people navigating environmental change.
Dr. Elisabeth Kago Ilboudo Nébié is the founder of Nébié Lab and an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science. She is an anthropologist whose work bridges cultural anthropology, environmental change, and participatory research methods.
Nébié Lab’s research contributes to academic, policy, and community knowledge across sectors. Dr. Nébié collaborates with international research institutions, interdisciplinary teams, and global development actors to extend the reach and relevance of the lab’s work. Her collaborative experiences include partnerships with organizations such as the International Development Research Centre, the International Livestock Research Institute, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, UNESCO, the UNFCCC, and the World Food Programme.