Urban Environments Symposium

This day-long symposium on ensuring healthier and more resilient communities through technological innovation and inclusive partnerships will bring together government, industry, community leaders, and academic thought leaders for a high-level exchange of ideas, presented by Rutgers University’s School of Engineering and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. 

Register Here

WELCOME 

Thomas N. Farris, Dean, Rutgers University School of Engineering

MORNING PROGRAM

Session 1: Government Perspective

• Keynote: Jane Cohen, Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Climate Change and the Green Economy
• Michael P. Foley, Risk Analysis Branch Chief, FEMA
• Richard Schaefer, Chief Engineer, NJ Transit, “Transit Hubs as Centers of Urban Communities”
• Moderator: Thomas Farris, Dean, Rutgers School of Engineering

Session 2: Industry Perspective

• Gunnar Hubbard, Principal and Sustainability Practice Leader Thornton Tomasetti, “Demystifying the approach to Healthy, High-Performance Buildings”
• Andy Ciancia, Senior Consultant, Langan, “Brownfields in Urban Settings – History and New York City Example”
• Moderator: Nenad Gucunski, Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Session 3: Academia Perspective

Overview of related research and capabilities at Rutgers’ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Sciences, and Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in the areas of:

• Environmental engineering and water resources
• Coastal and community resilience building
• Design and operation of transportation systems and buildings

Moderator: Donna Fennell, Chair, Department of Environmental Sciences 

LUNCH BREAK

• Tour of Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering
• Lab demonstrations

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

Session 4: Presentations by Invited Government and Community Speakers

• Keynote: Kandyce Perry, Director of Environmental Justice, NJDEP
• Carolina Ramos, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Jersey City
• Nicole Miller, Co-Chair, Newark DIG, “Effective Community-level Collaboration in Urban Environments”
• Moderator: Laura Lawson, Dean, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

Session 5: Panel Discussion

• Katrina Angarone, NJDEP
• Geoffrey Goll, Princeton Hydro
• Nicole Miller, Newark DIG
• Chris Obropta, Rutgers, Department of Environmental Sciences
• Marc Tuozzolo, NJ Transit
• Moderator: Malcolm McLaren, President and CEO, McLaren Engineering Group

Closing Remarks

• Nenad Gucunski

For more information: Contact Nenad Gucunski at gucunski@rutgers.edu