Author: Katherine Gloede Silverman

Events: Division of Science Student Research Panel and Research Opportunity Fair

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

On Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 the Division of Science held a student research panel with representation from each Program including Sustainability. The video of the full event is below. Students had the opportunity to present and discuss how they’ve gained research experience in their field and fun facts about themselves and their work. Also discussed was the Division of Science Student Council and the forthcoming graduate student club: Masters of Science. On October 20th, the Division of Science Student Council hosted a Research Opportunities Fair. The video is below to learn more about opportunities (many of which occur annually) at …

Continue Reading

Alumni Profile: Jennifer Bloom Leone, Class of 2018

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

After practicing as an architect for over twenty years, and building a small firm focused on design-build and sustainable design, I decided to refocus my energy. I was interested in rethinking the scale at which I was working with the hope of having a greater impact on the city. I chose CCNY’s Sustainability in the Urban Environment Program for several reasons, but primarily because I planned to stay and work in NYC and focus on issues particular to the city. In addition, I was familiar with and very interested in the work of the program director Hillary Brown and her …

Continue Reading

Alumni Profile: Katia Lucuy, Class of 2019

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

Originally from Bolivia and currently living in Westchester, she loved the multicultural environment of the program and the case studies highlighted in classes. She completed her sustainability studies as a Fulbright scholar and is now doing her STEM-OPT as an Intern at HLW in Manhattan. She completed her capstone work on community resilience in Puerto Rico with Professor Jorge Gonzalez-Cruz. The team had the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico and interview local community leaders and stakeholders. In addition to presenting their findings at the NSF Enhancing Resilience of Island Communities (ERIC) symposium in October of 2019.

Continue Reading

Student Project: A Comparative Analysis of Coastal Community Adaptation Strategies

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

Intro The US Atlantic Coast is one of the most vulnerable areas in the world to sea level rise (SLR) because of its low elevation, large population concentration, and economic importance. In addition to SLR, coastal communities like New York City can expect an increase in flooding events and unpredictable weather patterns in coming years. Under current emission trends sea level will continue to rise throughout the twenty-first century. The Northern Hemisphere is expected to experience an increase of up to 30 percent maximum precipitation (Banholzer et al. 2014).   NYC and the North East Coast of the United States is …

Continue Reading

Panel: Pollution and Black America: The Struggle for Environmental Justice

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

The Colin Powell School at CCNY hosted this lecture on environmental justice on October 1st, 2020 as a kick-off to their second year of the undergraduate Climate Policy Fellows Program. It can be viewed the Colin Powell School YouTube channel below. Additional information is also copied below from the Youtube post. Speakers: Linda Villarosa, Director of CCNY’s Journalism Program Shawn Rickenbacker, Associate Professor of Architecture at the CCNY Spitzer School of Architecture. Moderated by Trevor Houser, CCNY alumni and Director of the Climate Policy Fellows program, Partner, Rhodium Group – Kickoff of Climate Policy Fellows – While Black communities are …

Continue Reading

Alumni Profile: Gabrielle O’Grady, Class of 2020

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

Why did you decide to attend the program at CCNY? What do you like about it? I found the Sustainability in the Urban Environment Master’s Program when I decided I wanted a career change. After a few positions in clinical research and at the emergency room, when it was time to commit to medical school something was stopping me–it was my fascination for the built environment.  My grandfather came to this country as a master cabinetmaker. I would visit his shop and bask in the scent of fresh cut lumber. With his help, my parents built the house I grew …

Continue Reading

Student Project: Open Passive House

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

The True Cost of Passive House: Making a business case for multifamily affordable Passive House Objective:  There exists a highly compelling case for promoting Passive House building standards for the affordable multifamily sector in New York City. In addition to deep energy and carbon reductions that align with the goals of New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act, increased occupant comfort and climate resiliency will greatly benefit some of New York City’s most vulnerable populations. There is great interest in Passive House on both the supply side (designers and developers) and the demand side (customers, HPD), but there is a lack …

Continue Reading

Alumni Profile: Ben Leer, Class of 2015

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

My name is Ben Leer, I am a sustainability consultant, designer, builder and educator. I currently teach in the Building Science department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and am a NAPHN trainer for the international Passive House Tradesperson Certification. My path has been unconventional and at times challenging, but my various experiences have given me a broad perspective on what it means to create a sustainable future.   As an undergrad at Hunter College I studied environmental science. This is where I was first introduced to the many problems that plague our planet. Armed with the scientific knowledge that things had …

Continue Reading

Faculty Profile: Professor Jim Biles

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

James Biles is a newly affiliated faculty member in the MS Program in Urban Sustainability. An Associate Professor in the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership since 2009, Jim is also affiliated with CCNY’s International Studies Program and the PhD Program in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the CUNY Graduate Center.  As an economic geographer, Jim’s research and praxis are situated at the confluence of social and economic processes, development policy, and local livelihoods, primarily in Mexico and Latin America. In light of the deep-seated changes in the role of government and the prevailing ideology of development, his …

Continue Reading

Alumni Profile: Logman Arja, Class of 2016

by Katherine Gloede Silverman

My name is Logman Arja, I attended the City College of New York as a Fulbright scholar from Sudan, where I earned a Master of Science in Sustainability in the Urban Environment, graduating in 2016.  I also now hold a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.   I am currently a lecturer in Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design. I am also the founder and CEO of TRIPLE C (Clean Clay Cookstove), a San Francisco based design company committed to delivering ceramic 3D printed smokeless stoves to address household air pollution in …

Continue Reading