Florence Margai
Associate Professor & Department Chair
Room 227B, Student Wing
Phone : (607)-777-6731
Email : margai@binghamton.edu
  • Education: Ph.D., Kent State University, 1991
  • Other Distinguished Designations:
    o Chair, Department of Geography Department
    o Chair African Specialty Group Association of American Geographers(2002-05),
    o Editor, African Geographical Review
    o Member, Standards for Geographic Data Standing Committee, Association of American Geographers
    o Cofounder/Member of Organizing/Planning Committee: Race/Ethnicity and Place Conference
    o Editorial Board Member, WAGADU: Journal of Transnational Women's and Gender Studies(2003-present)
  • Teaching specialties:
    o Advanced Statistics/Geo-Statistical analysis
    o Environmental Hazards
    o Environmental Health
    o Environmental Analysis

  • Research interests:
    o Environmental Justice and Equity
    o Geography of Health and Health Disparities
    o Spatial Statistical Methods
    o Environmental Pollution and Pediatric Health Hazards
    o Health Challenges facing Women and Children in Africa

  • Current/Recent Research Projects Undertaken:
    o Childhood Malaria Burden and Treatment Approaches in Africa
    o Food security and childhood health in Africa
    o Health Disparities by Race, Ethnicity and Class in the U.S
    o Toxic exposure and low birth weight
    o Lead poisoning and learning disabilities

  • Publications
    Books
    o Frazier J.W. and F.M. Margai. 2003. Multicultural Geographies: The changing Racial/Ethnic Patterns of the United States (Eds.) Binghamton: Global Academic Publishing.
    o Frazier J.W., Margai, F.M and E.T. Tetteyfio. 2003. Race and Place: Equity Issues In Urban America. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
    o Margai, F.M. 2002. Introduction to Geography: Laboratory Exercises and Readings (2nd. Edition); Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
    Editor
    o Margai, F.M. 2004 Editor: African Geographical Review Volume 23
    o Margai, FM. 2005 Editor: Research in Contemporary and Applied Geography: A Discussion series Vol XXXVIII No. 3

    Journal Articles and Book Chapters
    o Margai, F.M. 2005. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health and Health Care: A geographical review. In J.W. Frazier and Tettey-Fio (eds.) Race, Ethnicity and Place in a Changing America. Global Academic Publishing, Binghamton, NY 2005.

    o Margai, F.M. and L. Tuck (2004)/ Exploratory Analysis of Learning Disabilities and Environmental Risk Factors. Research in Contemporary and Applied Geography: A Discussion series Vol XXXVIII No. 3
    o Margai, F.M. (with N. Henry). (2003) "A Community-based Assessment of Learning Disabilities using Environmental and Contextual risk factors". Social Science and Medicine, 56; pp. 1073-1085.

    o Margai, F.M. Using Geodata techniques to analyze environmental health inequities in minority neighborhoods: The case of toxic exposures and low birth weights. In Multicultural Geographies: The Changing Racial and Ethnic Patterns of the United States, John Frazier and Florence Margai (Eds). Global Academic Publishing, Binghamton, NY 2003. pp.263-274.

    o Margai, F.M. Indicators of Environmental Inequities and Threats to Minority Healthin Urban America. In Race and Place: Equity Issues in Urban America (with John Frazier, Florence Margai and Eugene Tetteyfio) Westview Press, Boulder CO. 2003 pp. 189-212.

    o Margai, F.M. (With J. Frazier) Multiculturalism and Multicultural Education in the United States: The Contributory Role of Geography. In Multicultural Geographies: The Changing Racial and Ethnic Patterns of the United States , John Frazier and Florence Margai (Eds). Global Academic Publishing, Binghamton, NY 2003. pp. 1-10.

    o Margai, F.M. (With J. Frazier), Culture, Cultural Landscapes and the Historical Contexts for Economic expansion, Immigration and Group Settlements in the United States. In Multicultural Geographies: The Changing Racial and Ethnic Patterns of the United States , John Frazier and Florence Margai (Eds). Global Academic Publishing, Binghamton, NY 2003. pp.11-30

    o Margai, F.M. (2001) "Health Risks and Environmental Inequity: A Geographical Analysis of Accidental Releases of Hazardous Materials". The Professional Geographer, 53 (3): pp. 422-434.
    o Lansana-Margai, F.M. (With J. Oigara) (2001) Evaluating the Proliferation and Impacts of Water Hyacinth in Lake Victoria. Book chapter in Issues in Africa and the African Diaspora in the 21st Century. S.N.Asumah and I. Johnston-Anumonwo (Eds). Global Publications and Africana Press. pp.109-121.

    o Lansana Margai F.M.. 2000. Africa. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 8th edition pp.192-195
    o Lansana-Margai, F.M. (1999). "Promotional Strategies for the Prevention and Proper Disposal of Household Hazardous Wastes". Journal of Environmental Systems, Vol. 27 (2). pp. 85-99.

    o Lansana-Margai, F.M., Walter, S., Frazier, J.W., and Brink, R. 1997. "Exploring the potential Environmental Sources and Associations of Childhood Lead Poisoning". Applied Geographic Studies, Vol. 1 (4); pp. 1-18.
    o Lansana-Margai, F.M. (1997). "Analyzing Changes in Waste Reduction Behavior in a Low-Income Urban Community following a Public Outreach Program". Environment and Behavior, Vol. 29 (6); pp. 769-792.

    o Lansana-Margai, F.M. (1995). "Evaluating the Potential for Environmental Quality Improvement in a community distressed by a Manmade Hazard". Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 44, pp. 181-190.

    o Lansana-Margai, F.M. (1993). "A Comparative Analysis of Curbside Recycling Strategies in Urban and Suburban Communities". The Professional Geographer, vol. 45 (2); pp.169-179.
    o Lansana-Margai, F.M. (1993). " Distinguishing Potential Recyclers From Non-Recyclers: A Basis for Developing Recycling Strategies". Journal of Environmental Education, Vol. 23 (2); pp. 16-23.

    o Lansana, F.M., Harvey, M.E. & Frazier, J.W. 1991. The Causal Role of Demographic, Communication and Attitudinal Factors in Recycling Behavior in Energy, The environment and Public Policy (pp.78-88) by D.L. Mackee (Ed.). New York: Praeger

o Lansana Margai, F.M. (With S. Martin) Risk Zones and Public Health Consequences for Hazardous Substance Releases Research in Contemporary and Applied Geography. Vol. 24; pp. 1-18.

o Lansana Margai, F.M.. Geographic Information Analysis of Pediatric Lead Poisoning. Proceedings of GIS in Public Health 3rd National Conference, August 1998, San Diego CA.

o Lansana, F.M. 1994. Integrating Waste Recovery and Reduction Systems in Low Income Urban Communities. Papers and Proceedings of Applied Geography Vol. 17 pp.122-136

o Lansana, F.M., Harvey, M.E. & Frazier, J.W. (1989), Household Participation in Recycling: An Evaluation of some Policy Questions. Papers and Proceedings of Applied Geography Vol. 12 (pp.144-156).

o Lansana Margai, (With J. Chung, K. Feitchingher & L. Dixon). A Spatial Analysis of Soil Lead Levels and Pediatric Lead Contamination. 1998. Research in Contemporary and Applied Geography: A Discussion series Vol. 22(4)pp.1-24.

.o Lansana-Margai, F.M. (With G. Turrner). Group Differentiated Perceptions and Support for Wetlands Protection and Restoration Policies. 1997.Research in Contemporary and Applied Geography: A Discussion series Vol. 21(4)pp.1-24.

o Lansana, F.M. 1994. Integrating Waste Recovery and Reduction Systems in Low-Income Urban Communities. Research in Contemporary and Applied Geography: A Discussion series Vol 29 (2), 13pps.