Bangladesh Environment & Migration Survey
BEMS Overview
The Bangladesh Environment and Migration Survey (BEMS) gathers data to understand the patterns and processes of internal and international migration in Bangladesh. We pay special attention to how climate change and other forms of environmental stress are affecting migration and the well-being of migrants and their families. The BEMS was launched in 2013 by an interdisciplinary team of researchers spanning the social and natural sciences. We use mixed methods, including household surveys, qualitative interviews, and remote sensing.
Methodology
Phase I of the BEMS began in the fall of 2013 and continued through 2014. This phase collected data from households in 10 communities. Phase 2 will begin in 2019 and will expand the BEMS to an additional 20 communities in southwest Bangladesh. The BEMS consists of three survey instruments:
The BEMS-HH is administered to household heads and spouses in randomly selected households living in select origin communities in southwest Bangladesh. The BEMS-HH collects information about the following: demographics, economic activity, income, assets, livelihoods, internal and international migration trips, access to services (e.g., health care, education), access to food and water, nutrition, health, social networks, perceptions and responses to environmental change.
The BEMS-M is administered to a sample of migrants who have moved from selected origin communities to urban destinations within Bangladesh. The BEMS-M collects similar information to the BEMS-HH.
The BEMS-C collects information about infrastructure, services, and economic activity within origin communities, including: markets, health care facilities, schools, water sources, employment, NGO’s, government aid, etc. These data will be collected through key informant interviews of village officers and leaders in the community.
Phase I of the BEMS began in the fall of 2013 and continued through 2014. This phase collected data from households in 10 communities. Phase 2 will begin in 2019 and will expand the BEMS to an additional 20 communities in southwest Bangladesh. The BEMS consists of three survey instruments:
- Household survey (BEMS-HH)
- Migrant survey (BEMS-M)
- Community survey (BEMS-C).
The BEMS-HH is administered to household heads and spouses in randomly selected households living in select origin communities in southwest Bangladesh. The BEMS-HH collects information about the following: demographics, economic activity, income, assets, livelihoods, internal and international migration trips, access to services (e.g., health care, education), access to food and water, nutrition, health, social networks, perceptions and responses to environmental change.
The BEMS-M is administered to a sample of migrants who have moved from selected origin communities to urban destinations within Bangladesh. The BEMS-M collects similar information to the BEMS-HH.
The BEMS-C collects information about infrastructure, services, and economic activity within origin communities, including: markets, health care facilities, schools, water sources, employment, NGO’s, government aid, etc. These data will be collected through key informant interviews of village officers and leaders in the community.
Collaborators
The BEMS is part of a interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers from the University of Colorado, Vanderbilt University, LSU, Georgetown University, and Khulna University. This project brings together social scientists, physical scientists, and engineers to investigate the critical interactions between natural and human systems that shape migration in the region.
Funding
The BEMS is part of a interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers from the University of Colorado, Vanderbilt University, LSU, Georgetown University, and Khulna University. This project brings together social scientists, physical scientists, and engineers to investigate the critical interactions between natural and human systems that shape migration in the region.
Funding
- National Science Foundation. System Dynamics Related to Livelihood, Human Migration, and Landscape Evolution (NSF-CNH-1716909).
- Office of Naval Research. Environmental Stress and Human Migration in a Low-Lying Developing Nation: A Comparison of Co-Evolving Natural and Human Landscapes in the Physically and Culturally Diverse Context of Bangladesh. PI: Steve Goodbred, Jr. (Vanderbilt).
Publications
Carrico, A.R., & Donato, K.M. (2019). Extreme Weather and Migration: Evidence from Bangladesh. Population and Environment, in press.
Benneyworth, L., Gilligan, J., Ayers, J.C., Goodbred, S., George, G., Carrico, A., Karim, M.R., Akter, F., Fry, D. Donato, K., Piya, B. (2016). Drinking water insecurity: Water quality and access in coastal southwestern Bangladesh. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 26, (5-6).
Donato, K.M., Carrico, A.R., Sisk, B., Piya, B. (2016). Different but the same: How legal status affects international migration from Bangladesh. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 666, 203-218.
Presentations
Carrico, A.R., Donato, K.M., Gilligan, J. (2019). Extreme Weather and the Probability of Marriage among Women in Bangladesh. Population Association of America, Austin, TX.
Carrico, A.R., Donato, K. (2018). Human Migration as a Response to Extreme Temperature and Rainfall: Historical Evidence from Bangladesh. American Geophysical Union, Washington D.C.
Best, K., Gilligan, J.M., Baroud, H., Carrico, A.R., Donato, K., Ackerly, B., Mallick, B. (2018). A Machine Learning Analysis of Multiple Social Surveys to Understand Environmental Migration in Coastal Bangladesh. Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, Washington D.C.
Carrico, A.R. (2018) Environmental Stress and Migration in Bangladesh: Results from the Bangladesh Environment and Migration Survey. International Centre for Climate Change and Development, Independent University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Carrico, A.R., Donato, K., Piya, B. (2017). Cyclone impacts on migration in coastal Bangladesh. Population Association of America, Chicago, IL.
Carrico, A.R., & Donato, K.M. (2019). Extreme Weather and Migration: Evidence from Bangladesh. Population and Environment, in press.
Benneyworth, L., Gilligan, J., Ayers, J.C., Goodbred, S., George, G., Carrico, A., Karim, M.R., Akter, F., Fry, D. Donato, K., Piya, B. (2016). Drinking water insecurity: Water quality and access in coastal southwestern Bangladesh. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 26, (5-6).
Donato, K.M., Carrico, A.R., Sisk, B., Piya, B. (2016). Different but the same: How legal status affects international migration from Bangladesh. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 666, 203-218.
Presentations
Carrico, A.R., Donato, K.M., Gilligan, J. (2019). Extreme Weather and the Probability of Marriage among Women in Bangladesh. Population Association of America, Austin, TX.
Carrico, A.R., Donato, K. (2018). Human Migration as a Response to Extreme Temperature and Rainfall: Historical Evidence from Bangladesh. American Geophysical Union, Washington D.C.
Best, K., Gilligan, J.M., Baroud, H., Carrico, A.R., Donato, K., Ackerly, B., Mallick, B. (2018). A Machine Learning Analysis of Multiple Social Surveys to Understand Environmental Migration in Coastal Bangladesh. Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, Washington D.C.
Carrico, A.R. (2018) Environmental Stress and Migration in Bangladesh: Results from the Bangladesh Environment and Migration Survey. International Centre for Climate Change and Development, Independent University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Carrico, A.R., Donato, K., Piya, B. (2017). Cyclone impacts on migration in coastal Bangladesh. Population Association of America, Chicago, IL.