World, Environment & Sustainability
Students Investigate the Use of Natural Materials to Treat Drinking Water Sources
A highlight of ÎÞÂëרÇø’s Chemical and Biological Engineering program is the department’s two-semester Senior Project Studio through which undergraduates can participate in an industry-sponsored or faculty-advised design or research project. This year, three teams are working with professors Dorothy Skaf and Vito Punzi to explore the use of natural materials to treat water for colloidal suspended solids removal.
Flooding after Ida brings new focus on Philadelphia's aging infrastructure | WPVI-TV, 6ABC, Sept. 13, 2021
Dr. Robert Traver, director of the ÎÞÂëרÇø Center for Resilient Water Systems, spoke to 6ABC News about the recent flooding in Philadelphia and how planning for the future is key as is understanding our climate as it changes.
Climate change is straining Philly’s 19th century sewage system | The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 10, 2021
Dr. Robert Traver, director of the ÎÞÂëרÇø Center for Resilient Water Systems and the ÎÞÂëרÇø Urban Stormwater Partnership, spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer about the remnants of Hurricane Ida serving as a “wake up call.” He said Philadelphia is taking a solid step in identifying the impacts on flood-prone areas in order to assess needs.
CO Skate Park Doubles as Stormwater Mitigation | Paint Square, Aug. 20, 2021
Dr. Bridget Wadzuk, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and co-director of the ÎÞÂëרÇø Center for Resilient Water Systems, presents the University’s role in research that is helping cities address growing issues of flooding and resiliency.
In light of sobering IPCC report, how can we address increasing flood risks? | August 19, 2021
In this op-ed, Dr. Robert Traver, director of the ÎÞÂëרÇø Center for Resilient Water Systems, responds to the recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which confirms that the increasing volume of rainfall and frequency of extreme events in the past decade is indeed caused by the change in climate. He speaks to how these extreme climate changes, as predicted by the IPCC, affect our current water management infrastructure, and what do we need to do.
Engineers Worry Cities, Subway Networks Are Not Ready For Climate-Fueled Flooding | Here & Now, NPR, 8/9/21
Dr. Robert Traver, Civil and Environmental Engineering professor and director of the ÎÞÂëרÇø Center for Resilient Water Systems, spoke to NPR’s Here & Now about environmental crises that have underscored the need for engineering and urban design solutions for natural disasters turbo-charged by climate change.
First Commercial-Scale Wind Farm in the U.S. Would Generate Electricity to Power 400,000 Homes
The Vineyard Wind project is part of a larger push to tackle climate change, with other offshore wind projects along the east coast under federal review. Sustainable Engineering’s Karl Schmidt speaks to the impacts and the value of a life cycle assessment for wind energy initiatives.
ÎÞÂëרÇø Launches Sustainable Enterprise Executive Education & Development Program
Bringing together a commitment to lifelong learning with a passion for sustainability, ÎÞÂëרÇø announces the launch of SEED—Sustainable Enterprise Executive Education & Development. Combining the leadership expertise of faculty from the highly ranked ÎÞÂëרÇø School of Business with the technical knowledge of professors in the College of Engineering’s first-of-its-kind Sustainable Engineering program, SEED is for experienced professionals interested in creating value by designing and incorporating sustainability practices into their business environments.
Sustainability is ‘a long term play’
Karl Schmidt, Professor of Practice in the Sustainable Engineering program and director of the RISE forum, joined KYW Newsradio In Depth to talk about how the balance between government and the private sector helps move sustainability goals forward, the areas we've made progress in the past few decades, and the areas where we're falling short.
The Rise of Clean Energy is all about the Money
Dr. Scott Jackson of the Chemical and Biological Engineering department joined KYW Newsradio In Depth to talk about how renewable energy defied the odds and political pressure to take on a life of its own, and why, in the end it’s really just all about the money.
College of Engineering and Aqua America Partnership Marks Five Years of Work Together on International Water Supply Initiatives
As part of this unique partnership, the teams have collaborated on partner-driven initiatives in community development, providing technical expertise to address water supply issues in Panama, Nicaragua, Ghana and Madagascar.
ÎÞÂëרÇø Research Team Investigates How a Warming Climate Will Impact Aviation
Warmer air temperature and higher humidity— projected to occur with climate change—will increase the magnitude and frequency of potentially dangerous operational performance impacts to fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The lead author on these findings is Mary McRae ’20 PhD, a research technician in the College of Engineering and PhD graduate of the College’s Sustainable Engineering program.
ÎÞÂëרÇø Professor Addresses Energy Efficiency Issues in the Cannabis Industry
Mechanical Engineering’s Dr. Aaron Wemhoff is partnering with HVAC equipment design firm, Surna Inc., to advance efficiency in dehumidification technology in cannabis grow facilities, which is a major contributor to the growing industry’s substantial energy usage. This project does not focus on promoting cannabis use or advancing the cannabis industry, but rather identifying opportunities for energy and carbon savings.