This workshop is designed for instructors of record and hosted in collaboration with the Community of Practice on Transformative Teaching with the SDGs and the Sustainability Education and Curriculum Committee.

Our intention is to build a community of learning and practice for permaculture where everyone has the opportunity to earn their Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) should they want to. Opportunities to develop one’s own skills, designs, and connections will be abundant.

Please join us and help build a community of regenerative ideas and action. Feel free to bring your own dinner if you want to share your evening mealtime with us. Refreshments will be provided.

While we want to encourage person-to-person camaraderie to bolster this burgeoning community, we are providing a virtual option for those who are unable to attend in-person.

Contact for more info:
Brent Verrill, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS
Tamsin Leavy, Horticulturist and Educator, Campus Services

[Wikipedia definition of "Permaculture." Note: Many think this definition is incomplete and oversimplified.]

Our intention is to build a community of learning and practice for permaculture where everyone has the opportunity to earn their Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) should they want to. Opportunities to develop one’s own skills, designs, and connections will be abundant.

Please join us and help build a community of regenerative ideas and action. Feel free to bring your own dinner if you want to share your evening mealtime with us. Refreshments will be provided.

While we want to encourage person-to-person camaraderie to bolster this burgeoning community, we are providing a virtual option for those who are unable to attend in-person.

Contact for more info:
Brent Verrill, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS
Tamsin Leavy, Horticulturist and Educator, Campus Services

• April 10: Clean Energy
• June 12: Water Management
• August 14: Mobility (Campus Transportation and Micromobility)
• October 9: 2025 Campus Sustainability Forum (Half-day In-Person Event)

• Feb 20: Materials Management and Circular Economy

• Feb 20: Materials Management and Circular Economy
• April 10: Clean Energy 
• June 12: Water Management 
• August 14: Mobility (Campus Transportation and Micromobility) 
• October 9: 2025 Campus Sustainability Forum (Half-day In-Person Event)

Register: https://gatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrde-vrDIsE9Xt2gxZ9FtnoSnSqMNRCCQY 

Abstract: My Georgia Tech engineering degree was the foundation that helped me through the leadership and technical challenges I faced running a major utility. I would like to share with you my journey, challenges, and advice from mentors that helped me in an exciting and rewarding career.

Bio: Fletcher was president of the WEC Energy Group since October 2018 and was named chief executive officer and appointed to the Office of the Chair and board of directors in February 2019. Fletcher retired June 2022 after a 45-year career in the utility industry.

Before the formation of WEC Energy Group, Fletcher served as senior vice president – customer operations for We Energies. In that role, he had overall responsibility for the planning, engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of the company’s electric and natural gas distribution systems in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He became president – We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service in May 2016 and president – Minnesota Energy Resources, Michigan Gas Utilities and Upper Michigan Energy Resources in September 2018. He also was responsible for the supplier diversity initiative across all of WEC Energy Group’s utilities.

Before joining We Energies, Fletcher was vice president – community and economic development at Georgia Power, Southern Co.’s largest subsidiary. In his 34 year career with Southern Co. in Atlanta – 16 of those as an officer – Fletcher held leadership positions in operations, customer service, marketing and sales.

Fletcher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. He also completed Harvard Business School’s advanced management program and holds an honorary Doctor of Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).

Prior to retirement, Fletcher was a member of the boards of directors of the American Transmission Co., Edison Electric Institute and Electric Power Research Institute. He also served on the board of directors for the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. He currently serves on the board of regents of MSOE.

Abstract: My Georgia Tech engineering degree was the foundation that helped me through the leadership and technical challenges I faced running a major utility. I would like to share with you my journey, challenges, and advice from mentors that helped me in an exciting and rewarding career.

Bio: Fletcher was president of the WEC Energy Group since October 2018 and was named chief executive officer and appointed to the Office of the Chair and board of directors in February 2019. Fletcher retired June 2022 after a 45-year career in the utility industry.

Before the formation of WEC Energy Group, Fletcher served as senior vice president – customer operations for We Energies. In that role, he had overall responsibility for the planning, engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of the company’s electric and natural gas distribution systems in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He became president – We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service in May 2016 and president – Minnesota Energy Resources, Michigan Gas Utilities and Upper Michigan Energy Resources in September 2018. He also was responsible for the supplier diversity initiative across all of WEC Energy Group’s utilities.

Before joining We Energies, Fletcher was vice president – community and economic development at Georgia Power, Southern Co.’s largest subsidiary. In his 34 year career with Southern Co. in Atlanta – 16 of those as an officer – Fletcher held leadership positions in operations, customer service, marketing and sales.

Fletcher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. He also completed Harvard Business School’s advanced management program and holds an honorary Doctor of Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).

Prior to retirement, Fletcher was a member of the boards of directors of the American Transmission Co., Edison Electric Institute and Electric Power Research Institute. He also served on the board of directors for the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. He currently serves on the board of regents of MSOE.

Micah Ziegler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Public Policy, Georgia Tech

March 14, 2024, 3 - 4 PM ET
Hybrid Event - Teams Link

BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 118
Refreshments will be served.

Abstract: As reliance on solar and wind energy resources grows, additional technologies will be needed to ensure that energy demand is met reliably. Options include energy storage, backup generation, demand-side management, and transmission expansion. I will describe my recent research that identifies strategies to improve these approaches, including efforts to evaluate energy storage technologies and elucidate the improvement of lithium-ion batteries.

Bio: Micah S. Ziegler is an assistant professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the School of Public Policy. He evaluates sustainable energy and chemical technologies, their impact, and their potential. His research helps to shape robust strategies to accelerate the improvement and deployment of technologies that can enable a global transition to sustainable and equitable energy systems. His work aims to inform research and development, public policy, and financial investment.

Marc Weissburg, Ph.D., Brook Byers Professor; School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology

November 2, 2023, 3 - 4 PM ET
Hybrid Event - Teams Link
BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 118
Refreshments will be served.

Description: This talk delves into how we can use principles from natural systems to improve the sustainability and resilience of human ones.

Bio: Marc Weissburg, with a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, currently directs the Center for Biologically Inspired Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He holds the title of a Brook Byers Professor within the School of Biological Sciences. Weissburg's research encompasses chemical ecology, sensory ecology, community ecology, and biologically inspired design. He leverages biological principles to enhance human technology and processes and is recognized for his innovative teaching methods across various education levels.

• Importance of climate action
• Georgia Tech's Greenhouse Gas Inventory
• Climate action strategies for Georgia Tech

Please register here to join the Zoom meeting. 

Students are invited to join the Office of Sustainability to learn about the strategies included in the Georgia Tech Climate Action Plan and share their input.

*RSVP Required*

Jessica Roberts, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

November 16, 2023, 3 - 4 PM ET
Hybrid Event - Teams Link
BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 118
Refreshments will be served.

Description: This talk will preview the Dataseum, an exhibition to be presented at the Price Gilbert Library in 2024 that will provide opportunities for public interaction with data from Georgia Tech researchers around sustainability and the environment.

Bio: Jessica Roberts is an Assistant Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at GT with a PhD in the Learning Sciences, specializing in geospatial analysis and visualization in informal learning. As director of the Technology-Integrated Learning Environments (TILEs) Lab at Georgia Tech, her research explores technology-mediated social learning experiences in environments such as museums and citizen science. She is a former middle school teacher and a Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems Faculty Fellow. Her work on the design of interactive learning technologies has been exhibited at venues such as the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and the New York Hall of Science. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Dr. Roberts conducted postdoctoral research at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University and the Tidal Lab at Northwestern University.

Dylan Brewer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology

October 19, 2023, 3 - 4 PM ET
Hybrid Event - Teams Link
BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 118
Refreshments will be served.

Abstract: In 2019, a fire at a natural gas plant and historically low temperatures caused an emergency shortage of natural gas in Michigan. To avoid an outage, the Governor issued a request via statewide text alert to turn thermostats down to 65 degrees F. We analyze the effectiveness of this request using high-frequency smart-thermostat data from Michigan and four neighboring states. Using a difference-in-differences research design, we find that Michigan households reduced thermostat settings by 1.1 degrees on average following the Governor’s request. Households that were previously above 65 degrees F responded strongly, while households that were below did not respond at all or increased their thermostat settings. Meanwhile, households in districts that voted for the Governor in 2018 were more likely to comply. Our results suggest that unrealistic compliance goals and political polarization reduce the effectiveness of emergency calls to conserve energy.

Bio: Dylan Brewer joined the faculty at the School of Economics in 2019. He received his PhD in Economics with a dual major in Environmental Science and Policy from Michigan State University in May 2019 as well as a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the same institution in 2016. Prior to his graduate studies, Dylan completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Economics and International Relations at the University of Virginia in 2014. Dylan's research uses the tools of empirical industrial organization, applied econometrics, and machine learning to answer questions in energy and environmental economics. Focusing on incentives for energy use and conservation under different institutional regimes, he emphasizes applying economic insight to problems in energy and the environment by blending theory and empirics with a clear and straightforward analysis. Current projects include research on residential energy use, demand management in electricity markets, and urban issues such as street lighting, crime, and taxi demand. Additionally, Dylan is a member of the board of trustees for the State of Michigan Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

Students are invited to join the Georgia Tech Office of Sustainability to learn more about the Climate Action Plan and share your thoughts on how Georgia Tech can meet its climate goals.

RSVP Here

• Tabling by sustainability student organizations, academic groups, and external organizations
• Complimentary King of Pops popsicles (supplies are limited, so get one while you can!)
• Screen printing Earth Day designs. To increase the sustainability of this activity, we ask that you bring a clothing article or tote bag to print on. Upcycled recovered t-shirts will be available for those who forget. 

For groups interested in tabling, please RSVP to reserve your spot. 

Members of the Georgia Tech Office of Sustainability and Brailsford & Dunlavey, the consulting team leading the climate action plan (CAP) effort with Georgia Tech, will give an overview of the CAP process and provide a space for the Georgia Tech community to share perspectives on how the Institute can reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.   

Agenda 

• Opening Remarks and CAP Overview – Jennifer Chirico, PhD, Associate Vice President (AVP) of Sustainability, Georgia Tech Infrastructure and Sustainability; Brailsford & Dunlavey Team
• Interactive Climate Solutions and UN SDG Alignment Activity – Brailsford & Dunlavey Team 

RSVP Here

Join via Zoom

Registration is required.

This Green Cleaning DIY Workshop focuses on the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

Following the keynote, hear 30-minute presentations on sustainability topics from experts including:

• Georgia Tech Climate Action Overview with Jillian Buckholz, Sustainability Advisor at Brailsford & Dunlavey.
• EPICenter Initiatives with Joe Hagerman, Director for the Energy, Policy, and Innovation Center at Georgia Tech
• Georgia Tech Facilities Electrification with David Gennaro, Associate Director of Landscape Services at Georgia Tech

Register for the event.

Register at: https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2fUAbNcEstjJag6.

Register at: https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2fUAbNcEstjJag6.

Participants will be able to focus on the potential for resiliency through built and natural environments. Sessions include- canning, herbalist walkthrough (foraging/herbal tea making), and DIY green cleaning products.

Food will be provided. RSVP is required.

We will discuss the following topics:

• innovative ways to track solution adoption
• places and people in Georgia that are demonstrating progress  
• critical infrastructure and enabling policies
• characterizing market adoption and equity issues 
• the potential for accelerating adoption 
• business and thought leaders who should be consulted  

Speakers

Bryan Jacob, solar program director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, will discuss “Status of rooftop solar in Georgia relative to other Southeastern states & enabling policies that could empower more customer-generators.”  

Jeff Pratt, president of Green Power EMC, will discuss “Challenges and Opportunities of Rooftop Solar for EMC Member/Customers."

Moderated by Marilyn A. Brown, Regents' Professor in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Join online at: https://bit.ly/SolarGA.

Through this facilitated dialogue with ​Alexis Martinez EdD, JD (she/her), Executive Director of the Office of Equity & Compliance Programs, learn more about the policies and resources currently provided​. Additionally, we will explore what the future​ may look like on the state and/or federal level, particularly with new proposed regulations to Title IX and recent court decisions from around the Southeast.

Register to Attend

The event is held in tandem with the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact. The Compact is a statewide business consortium aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions within the state of Georgia by 2050 and is facilitated and managed by the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business. The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business seeks to empower the leaders of tomorrow to create sustainable businesses and communities. We do this by acting as a catalyst and connector, bringing together students, research faculty, companies, and entrepreneurs to create an environment where business-driven solutions to sustainability challenges can take shape and thrive.

The Compact (currently 42 companies strong — and growing) leverages the collective impact of the Georgia business community to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the state through a just, competitive, and sustainable transition.

Event Details: 

·      (5- 5:45p)  Panel with Compact Members , moderated by Net Impact MBA members

Panelists are: 

• Nell Fry, consultant in Sustainability and Net Zero Transitions at Accenture Strategy
• Liz Minne, Global Sustainability Director, Interface

·      (6:00- 6:45p) Tabling/Speed Networking    (Company members sit at tables and students come around to chat) 

·      ( 6:45- 7p) Wrap up  

Main Questions that the Event is addressing:

• What are companies doing to address Climate Change?
• What are the skills, what are the goals that climate conscious employers are going to to be hiring for?
• What are the Climate conscious employers offering for employment?

RSVP

• Turn in unwanted shields to your Building Manager
• Building Managers will reach out to their respective Areas to inform them of quantity/pickup location
• OSWM&R will centralize shields, disassemble, and sort materials
• Materials will be taken to a specialty recycling vendor

This will be the final opportunity to recycle any shields you may have. Both acrylic-only and PVC mixed shields are accepted. Should you have any questions, reach out to recycle@gatech.edu

Presentations will run from 4-5 p.m., with a reception (and food) to follow.

Presenters include:

• Omar Asensio, SPP
• Marilyn Brown, SPP
• Alice Favero, SPP
• Daniel Matisoff, SPP
• Valerie Thomas, ISyE and SPP
• Laura Taylor, ECON
• Dylan Brewer, ECON
• Matt Oliver, ECON
• Casey Wichman, ECON
• Vincent Gu, SPP
• Vikrant Kamble, ECON

Zoom Meeting Link: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/91366594765

Registration is required to attend the event.

Registration is required to attend the event.

Collections will include electronics waste, plastic bags and film, Styrofoam, and batteries. For a full list of what is accepted visit: Hefty Energy Bag and Atlanta Recycling Solutions

The first event is on 

Friday, Oct 22 | 12-1 pm.  

Water quality monitoring network for highly impacted urban headwaters in metro Atlanta (GA) 
Flyer including abstract [PDF]

Join the Virtual Presentations Here

• Richard Milligan, Assistant Professor of Geosciences, Georgia State University
• Na'Taki Osborne Jelks, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Health Sciences, Spelman College 

Abstract: To address the global issue of water quality degradation from cities, this project has built upon relationships between Spelman College, GSU, NGOs, and community-based watershed advocacy organizations to better identify and address sewage spills in Atlanta. We developed a community-based water quality monitoring network in watersheds totaling 300 square-miles of highly urbanized and densely populated headwaters of two rivers in metro Atlanta, providing greater regulatory effectiveness, better relations between impacted communities and watersheds, and new opportunities to improve both watershed and public health. The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, American Rivers, and the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance have assisted with creating a system whereby students at Spelman and GSU processed water quality samples routinely collected by community members of the South River Watershed Alliance, Flint Riverkeeper, and ECO-Action. 

***

The Atlanta Global Studies Center (AGSC) is proud to lead these efforts and house the multi-institutional consortia, Atlanta Global Research & Education Collaborative (AGREC). 

Please see below for further details about AGREC and upcoming presentations.

***

UPCOMING AGREC PRESENTATIONS

Wed, October 27 | 12 - 1 pm EST
Growing Intercultural Competence for Peace and Mediation: The Case Study Method in the Foreign Language Classroom
Flyer including abstract [PDF]

• Hyoun-A Joo, Assistant Professor of German, Georgia Tech
• Barbara Drescher, Acting Director of German Studies, Agnes Scott College
• Lina Tuschling, TRENDS Global

Wed, November 3 | 11 am - 12pm EST
Advancing a Community-Based Participatory Research Model for Metropolitan Regional Immigrant Integration and Receptivity through the One Region Initiative
Flyer including abstract [PDF]

• Allen Hyde, Assistant Professor, School of History and Sociology, Georgia Tech
• Cathy Liu, Professor and Department Chair, Department of Public Management and Policy, Georgia State University

Fri, November 5 | 11 am - 12 pm EST
The Global Communities Internship Program
Flyer including abstract [PDF]

• Philip Ojo, Professor of French, Agnes Scott College
• Amber McCorkle, Education and Programs Director, Clarkston Community Center
• Jongdae Kim, Co-Founder and ED, Re'Generation Movement
• Monty Whitney, Director, Bonner Office of Community Service, Morehouse College
• Johannes Kleiner, Associate Director, Civic Engagement, Emory University
• Ruthie Yow, Service Learning & Partnerships Specialist, Serve-Learn-Sustain, Georgia Tech

Wed, November 10 |  12  - 1 pm EST
Atlanta-area migrant communities and climate change: characterizing drivers of migration, exposure risks, and health vulnerabilities
Flyer including abstract [PDF]

• Cassandra White, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Georgia State University
• Rebecca P. Philipsborn, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University
• Alexis Nkusi, MD, MPH, CPACS/Cosmo Health Center

Thu, December 2 | 10  - 11 am EST
Savings Lives in the Refugee Community: A Cultural and Linguistic Adaptation of Stop the Bleed
Flyer including abstract [PDF]

*****

*The featured projects were funded through AGREC during AY 20-21. 

**AGREC has continued to grow this year and is proud to support 9 projects engaging faculty and students from 10 universities/colleges as well as 11 community partners during AY21-22.  We look forward to featuring their work next academic year! Further details will be available on the AGREC webpage soon!

New projects supported in AY 21-22:

o    Global Learning for a Lifetime: Supporting Black Students at Home and Abroad 

o    Realizing the Vision: Designing a Community Science Collaboratory for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

o    Writers Without Borders: A Human Rights Writing Project for Atlanta’s Migrant Youth

o    The Global Communities Internship Program  

o    Supporting Holocaust Education for Atlanta Area Preservice Teachers through Collaborative Research, Resources, and Partnerships

o    Connecting global and local: Curricular development and global partnership in a Korean specials class at a public elementary school

o    Bringing Native Science into Atlanta’s K-12 dual language immersion: Digital curriculum development and adaptation in an APS classroom

o    Cultural Sensitivity Workshop: Building Bridges 

o    Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Southeastern German Classrooms [pending]

*******

Launched in 2020 and housed within the Atlanta Global Studies Center (AGSC), AGREC is comprised of five universities:

• AGSC, a partnership of Georgia Tech and Georgia State University

• Emory University’s Office of Global Strategy and Initiatives (GSI)

• Agnes Scott College’s SUMMIT Center for Global Learning and Leadership Development

• Spelman College’s Gordon Zeto Center for Global Education

• Kennesaw State University's Division of Global Affairs

The Atlanta Global Research and Education Collaborative (AGREC) seeks to build and strengthen collaborative networks of multi-institutional scholars and practitioners to support global research and education initiatives in the Greater Atlanta region.

Welcome 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Key Note 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  MIT Climate Action Plan

• Julie Newman, Ph.D. , Director of Sustainability, MIT

Presentation 1: 10:40 – 11:05 a.m.  Value Engineering Sustainability into Projects

• Rex Hamre, National Director, Sustainability, JLL

Presentation 2: 11:10 – 11:35 a.m.  Long Life, Loose Fit: Making Space for Covid

• Dan Nemec, Georgia Tech Associate Director of Campus Capital Planning

Presentation 3: 11:40 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.  Georgia Tech's π Mile Renovation Presentation and Walk

• Jason Gregory, Sr. Planner, Georgia Tech Campus Planning & Space Management
• Jerry Young, Landscape Project Manager, Georgia Tech Design and Construction

If you cannot join in person, use this link to join via Bluejeans.

Registration is required to attend the event.

Registration is required to attend the event.

Registration is required to attend the event.

The 54th annual Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) is approaching fast! This year's course theme is Place Based Economic Development, which gives insight into creating innovative, walkable communities where businesses thrive and people want to live. Join us in person* Aug. 31- Sept. 3 to network with industry peers and experts and learn about real-estate development, strategic planning, and more!

A Virtual Summit

June 1-3, 2021

Overview: The World Affairs Council of Atlanta –in collaboration with CARE USA, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and The Carter Center – hosts its 9th annual Atlanta Global Health Summit. The Summit convenes health experts from the public and private sectors, including senior CDC leadership, Washington policymakers and think tanks, and health experts from the US, the United Kingdom, Africa and India. The Summit’s focus is on the three critical, fast evolving dimensions of the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic: the pandemic’s acceleration of the preexisting hunger crisis complicated by the added challenge of economic recession; the unprecedented and highly problematic effort to launch remarkably promising vaccines worldwide in the race against proliferating variants and misinformation; and the intensifying international debates on critical reforms to better manage the current crisis and lay the groundwork for future preparedness, in a fragmented world beset by nationalism, geopolitical clashes, and acute scarcity.

This free event is co-sponsored by the Atlanta Global Studies Center.

June 3: What are the Essential Reforms, and How to Achieve Them?

12:00 Opening Keynote: Gayle E. Smith, Coordinator, Global COVID Response and Health Security, U.S. Department of State

In conversation with J. Stephen Morrison, PhD, SVP and Director, Global Health Policy Center, CSIS

12:30 Panel 3:

• Gayle E. Smith, Coordinator, Global COVID Response and Health Security, U.S. Department of State
• Thomas J. Bollyky, Director, Global Health Program, Senior Fellow for Global Health, Economics, and Development, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
• Stephanie Segal, Senior Fellow, Economics Program, CSIS
• Moderated by: J. Stephen Morrison, PhD, SVP and Director, Global Health Policy Center, CSIS

Saturday, May 15th:

Module 1: Apiculture

• Supporting honeybees in urban environments (Dr. Jennifer Leavey, Georgia Tech)
• Virtual Urban Beehive Tour (Reggie Davis and Tyree Thornton: Fulton County Master Gardeners, Truth Honey)

Module 2: Urban Agriculture

• Reckoning, repair, and regeneration: A case for the need to move beyond “sustainable” (Dr. Bradford Baker, Georgia Tech)
• Growing greenhouse mushrooms (Michael Blackwell, Kennesaw State University)

Sunday, May 16th:

Module 3: Urban Wildlife

• Who calls Georgia Tech home? Wildlife on Campus (Dr. Emily Weigel, Georgia Tech)
• Tracking foxes at Georgia Tech (Benjamin Seleb, Georgia Tech)

Module 4: Resource Conservation and Climate Management

• Examining our heat island with Climate Lab (Dr. Evan Mallen, Georgia Tech)
• Man-made wetlands and their role in urban water conservation, followed by a virtual tour of the Johns Creek Environmental Center Water Treatment Facility (Kelli Edwards, Fulton County Public Works)

Register to participate

REGISTER HERE

The intersections with energy systems on public health occur at all points along the energy system lifecycle and may produce both positive and negative outcomes, at times placing undue burden on vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities. We are also in the midst of a dynamic period as energy systems evolve to deal with climate, environment, and scarcity concerns. It is critical that we develop a foundational knowledge in order to effectively respond to the interrelated challenges of public health and energy infrastructure.

We seek to create a vibrant community of researchers whose focus is on the potential health impacts of energy technologies by leveraging Georgia Tech’s energy expertise and the world class public health resources in Atlanta. Our objective is to shift the energy and health paradigm from an historically reactive one to an increasingly proactive one.

ATTENTION Georgia Tech Faculty!

CALL for SUMMARY WHITE PAPERS
The Energy Policy and Innovation Center and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biomedicine are soliciting two-page white paper submissions that provide ideas for energy and public health intersections, frame issues for policy makers, identify promising and relevant research areas, develop impactful regional partnerships, or achieve other strategic objectives, particularly in areas which are differentiating for Georgia Tech. We will provide $1,000 in discretionary funds to cover faculty/student time in developing these white papers - deadline Monday, May 14, 2021.

Information and Submission

Keynote: Patrick Breysse, Ph.D. - Director, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Moderated by: Laura Taylor, Ph.D. - Professor and Chair, School of Economics, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Tech

Panelists:
Sally Ng, Ph.D. - School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Tech
Marilyn Brown, Ph.D. - Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Tech
Rich Simmons, Ph.D. - Energy Policy and Innovation Center, Georgia Tech
Noah Scovronick, Ph.D. - Emory Rollins School of Public Health

Agenda:

• 1 PM                     Welcome and Introductions
• 1:15 – 1:45 PM     Keynote: Patrick Breysse - Feelin’ the Heat: The Intersection of Climate, Energy, and Health 
• 1:45 – 2 PM          Q&A with Patrick Breysse
• 2 - 3 PM                Lightning Talks
• 3 - 3:30 PM           Panel Discussion: Research Frontiers at the Nexus of Health and Energy
• 3:30 - 4 PM           Open Forum Discussion

Call for Abstracts - Do you have expertise in this area that you'd like to present during the "Lightning Talks" segment? Submit your abstract by Monday, May 11, 2021. All submissions will be included in the workshop packet with 10 selected to present.
Submit Abstract Here

A panel of Georgia State University Middle East experts, including Dr. Ian Campbell, Dr. Rashid Naim, Dr. Jack Williams and Dr. Michael Herb, discuss the current state of the Middle East and future prospects for the region in the realms of business and politics. This panel will be moderated by Dr. Allen Fromherz and Dr. Mourad Dakhli.

Zoom registration link (https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QKgeQ1KsRpiRKf-_vc6v8A)

The Strategic Energy Institute is hosting its first Energy Venture Capital Day to foster commercialization of energy innovations stemming from research by Georgia Tech students, staff, and faculty. Learn the keys to launching your energy related startup, and the challenges of successfully capitalizing it from experienced practitioners.

Moderator: Dr. Joyelle Harris - Director, Social Innovation Center, and Associate Dir. of CREATE-X Learns Program, Georgia Tech

Panelists:
Jakob Carnemark - Founder, Endeavour, Inc
Mark Loch - Chairman of Factor[e] Ventures, Operating Partner, Blackhorn Ventures
Jim Lyons - Lead Technologist for Venture Investing, Capricorn Investment Group
Brandon O'Gara - Partner at Echo Investment Capital
Gleb Yushin - Professor of Materials Science, Georgia Tech

Agenda

1:00 PM - Welcome Remarks - Dr. Tim Lieuwen, Director of Strategic Energy Institute 
1:05 PM - Commercializing Innovation in Georgia Tech - Dr. Sivakumar Raghupathy, Chief Commercialization Officer
1:10 - 1:20 PM - "ENERGY LANDSCAPE"@ GEORGIA TECH   
1:20 - 2:10 PM - Expert Panel
2:10 PM - Closing Remarks - Dr. Tim Lieuwen

Webinar URL: https://bit.ly/2PUNpSc

CEO & Founder, Community Energy Labs

One-tenth of US greenhouse gas emissions, or 560M tons of CO2 per year, come from direct combustion of gas in buildings. Ninety-three percent of commercial and institutional buildings use fossil fuels to heat water and air. Policymakers worldwide are initiating changes like building electrification that set the stage for an overhaul of buildings in hopes that better performance will enable improved renewable energy integration and grid benefits. But matching when buildings use energy to when renewables produce it isn't as easy or affordable as it sounds. Barham will talk about how Community Energy Labs is using machine learning to help make building flexibility more affordable and accessible and share some of her lessons learned during 27 yeas of entrepreneurship and 3 start-ups.

Dr. Paul Hines​

CEO & Co-Founder, Packetized Energy​

Professor and the L. Richard Fisher chair in EE, University of Vermont

There is broad agreement that load flexibility is a key element of grid modernization and electrification. The question is: How do we get tens of millions of smart devices deployed into homes and businesses, and then once deployed, how do we enable millions of devices to actually solve grid problems rather than create new ones? This panel presentation will review work that we are doing at Packetized Energy to (a) make it easy for everyone to install and benefit from smart energy devices, and (b) coordinate those device through algorithms inspired by those used in internet communications.

What are beeswax wraps, you might wonder? Made from organic cotton coated with beeswax, organic jojoba oil and tree resin, beeswax wrap is an alternative natural food wrap with antibacterial properties. Because of this, they reduce the need for plastic for food items.

The first 30 people who sign up for this workshop will receive a kit for making beeswax wraps, and pickup times will be from April 7 - 9 on Tech Green or the CULC (depending on weather, and more details will be communicated to attendees via email).

*Note, participants will need to have access to an oven for this workshop.

Bluejeans link

Dr. Ismael Rafols, senior researcher at Leiden University in the Netherlands, will present a bibliometric analysis on how publications may be related to the various UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rather than providing a single mapping of publications to each SDG, they propose a plural landscape for diverse stakeholders to explore the relationship according to their own views. To do so, they will describe an interactive platform that allows users to scrutinize publications related to SDGs in a global map of science. Dr. Rebecca Watts Hull from the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain will be moderating this virtual event, and Dr. Sebnem Ozkan from the Atlanta Global Studies Center will introduce the event.

About the Speaker: Ismael Rafols is a senior researcher at CWTS. He works on the development of novel approaches to Science & Technology indicators for informing evaluation, foresight and research strategies. His current focus is on research priority setting, in particular for societal challenges such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in health and agriculture.

About the Moderator: Rebecca Watts Hull is an environmental sociologist with professional experience in environmental education and advocacy. She is a Service Learning and Partnerships Specialist for the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain and an Adjunct Academic Professional in the School of History and Sociology at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. 

This event is hosted by the Georgia Tech Library in collaboration with the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain and the Atlanta Global Studies Center.

Our mission is to drive interdisciplinary interest and engagement in sustainability, new supporting technologies, and equitable benefits across all subdomains of society.

Join us for our info session if you want to learn more!

Join via bluejeans

Global Studies Meet & Greet for Assistant Professors/Visiting Assistant Professors in Ivan Allen College (IAC)

Please join us to meet with colleagues working on global issues, cross-cultural communication, advanced language learning, sustainability, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and learn about funding resources and opportunities available from the AGSC!

All Assistant Professors and Visiting Assistant Professors in IAC are invited!

Feb 24 | 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Meeting URL: https://bluejeans.com/176658978

March 12 | 9-10:15 a.m.
Meeting URL: https://bluejeans.com/688497163

Global Studies Meet & Greet for Assistant Professors/Visiting Assistant Professors in Ivan Allen College (IAC)

Please join us to meet with colleagues working on global issues, cross-cultural communication, advanced language learning, sustainability, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and learn about funding resources and opportunities available from the AGSC!

All Assistant Professors and Visiting Assistant Professors in IAC are invited!

Feb 24 | 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Meeting URL: https://bluejeans.com/176658978

March 12 | 9-10:15 a.m.
Meeting URL: https://bluejeans.com/688497163

Learn more about the program and apply today at sls-france.gatech.edu!

You may want to bring a bag so you can take home produce and herbs with you!

The Community Garden is located on the IC lawn adjacent to the Exhibition Hall.

You may want to bring a bag so you can take home produce and herbs with you!

The Community Garden is located on the IC lawn adjacent to the Exhibition Hall.

Veronica Klucik, ECON and IA 2018, is the exhibitions manager at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) and co-curator of the exhibition, Learning from Nature: The Future of Design. She is drawn to the dynamism of design -- an entity both reactionary and explanatory, interdisciplinary by nature, and concerned with both function and form – and the power of storytelling and play to share big ideas, bring people together, and inspire innovation.

Veronica holds a B.S. in Economics and International Affairs from Georgia Tech and a M.S. of Sustainable Urbanism from University College London, where she found her niche in the convergence of the designed and the natural. Her big loves in life are throwing pottery, a holistic approach to wellness, and encouraging equitable climate change adaptation and resilience through community building.

This discussion will be recorded in advance, so please register and submit your questions by February 15, 2021 to have them included with time permitting. The recording will then be streamed on Facebook Live on Monday, February 22, 2021.

Please see our linktree for more information on membership: https://linktr.ee/sos.gatech.

If the signups are full, you may put your name on this overflow list to be contacted in the event that an individual can no longer attend.

Masks are required and hand sanitizer will be provided. Please review garden health guidelines before attending.

You may want to bring a bag so you can take home produce with you.

The Community Garden is located on the IC lawn adjacent to the new Student Center.

Whoever collects the most trash throughout the day will receive a prize after the trash pick up. All supplies for the clean-up will be provided, but please bring your own PPE to the event. Masks are required to attend this event. 

You can sign up using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b49a5aa2ba7f49-trash.

Georgia Tech is not alone in its ambitious mission to transform the way our campus, students and faculty and staff relate to our natural environment.  Join us as we hear about the efforts and experiences of some of our peer institutions in their own efforts to reduce their energy and water consumption and minimize material waste on their campuses.  We will be joined by experts at Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, and Biohabitats.

• Fahima Ahmed Bangert, Director of Sustainability and SEM Business Services, Stanford University 

• Kristen Lee, Sustainability Programs Manager, UC Santa Cruz

• Erin English, Biohabitats, Senior Engineer and Practice Leader, Biohabitats 

The forum consists of four tracks for engagement:

Sustainable Resource Management

Learn how Georgia Tech has been innovating in the ares of hard-to-recycle materials, lab energy efficiency and Covid staffing efficiencies to meet sustainability goals.

The Eco-Commons

The Eco-Commons will be more than 40 acres of greenspace all across campus. Opening soon is a 7 acre section right next to the Kendeda Building with areas for reflection, research application and fun. Come check it out!

The Kendeda Building

The Kendeda Building for Innovative and Sustainable Design has been open for just over a year. Take a virtual tour and learn how much has changed in our first year of operation.

Historic Sector: Preserve to Conserve

Georgia Tech's historic district is located on the original 9 acres of campus and consists of many certified buildings.

With so many exciting presentations to choose from, we've organized them along subject areas to help you find what aligns to your interests. However, you don't have to attend every session in one track. Participants are encouraged to pick and choose what they are most interested in. All sessions will be hosted every 20 minutes beginning at 2:35 p.m. (i.e. - 2:35 pm, 3:05 p.m., 3:35 p.m.).

Register here: http://facilities.gatech.edu/sustainable-facilities-forum-registraion

Russell Gold is the author of two books - The Boom and Superpower - and is a two-time finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. He has covered the energy beat for 15 years and in 2020 will inaugurate a new beat for the The Wall Street Journal: climate change and business.

For more details and some notable/interesting articles of his, visit http://energy.gatech.edu/hg/item/639343.

Join us for a virtual panel hosting Senator Tonya Anderson (D), Representative Houston Gaines (R), Executive Director of Georgia Justice Project (GJP), Doug Ammar, and moderator, Lisa McGahan (Policy Director, GJP) as they discuss how bipartisan efforts led to the newly adopted Second Chance expungement bill in Georgia.

Georgia Justice Project is a nonprofit focused on strengthening Georgia's communities by demonstrating a better way to represent and support individuals in the criminal justice system, reducing the number of individuals under correctional control in Georgia and all the ensuing barriers to reentry.  The Georgia Justice Project promotes innovative change through direct legal representation, policy advocacy, education, and coalition building. This year, GJP successfully brought together 70 partner organizations through the Second Chance campaign to support expanding expungement in Georgia.

Senator Tonya Anderson was elected to the State Senate to represent Georgia’s 43rd District in 2016. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC), and serves as Secretary of the Retirement Committee. She is also a member of the Public Safety, Special Judiciary, and Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committees. Senator Anderson retired in 2012 from the United States Air Force Reserve after more than 21 honorable years of service and continues to volunteer and advocate for veterans’ services. Read her full bio here.

Representative Houston Gaines was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2018. Rep. Gaines is a Republican representing the 117th House District. He works at Cannon Financial Institute, where he serves clients across the country in the financial industry. Houston also consults with Lighthouse Counsel, a local company that partners with nonprofits to increase mission awareness, organizational effectiveness, and philanthropic support. Read his full bio here.

Doug Ammar has been associated with the Georgia Justice Project (GJP) since its inception in 1986 – serving first as a volunteer, then as a staff lawyer in 1990, and, since 1995, as the Executive Director. Doug has received the prestigious Annie E. Casey Foundation Fellowship and a number of other awards including most recently the Elbert P. Tuttle Jurisprudence Award from the Southeastern Anti-Defamation League; The University of Georgia’s Milner S. Ball Working In the Public Interest Lifetime Achievement Award; the Georgia Center for Nonprofits’ Evelyn G. Ullman Innovative Leadership Award; Davidson College’s John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service; and the Georgia Indigent Defense Council’s Commitment to Excellence Award. Read Doug's full bio here.

Lisa McGahan is an experienced financial services professional and lawyer with expertise in investment banking, public policy, and philanthropic sectors. A founding member of the Global Media Group at Goldman Sachs she led a team of bankers originating and executing mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and principal investment transactions in the technology and traditional media industries. Since retiring from Wall Street and returning to Atlanta she has been actively involved in various philanthropic institutions, serving on the Board of Trustees of The Westminster Schools, The Howard School, Midtown Assistance Center, Wesley Woods, and Housing Tonight, Inc.  Currently, Lisa is the Policy Director at the Georgia Justice Project.

Impact is a weekly series of meaningful conversations, free and open to all. The talks provide students, and the larger community on and off-campus, the opportunity to network with and learn from, successful leaders and entrepreneurs from the corporate and social sectors.

The 2020/21 series will feature conversations on race, social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This event is presented in collaboration with the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain.

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/sdVRUMuCtjYLqrHH6.

This panel is part of the Atlantic Council’s Elections 2020: America's Role in the World, a series of conversations on the top foreign policy priorities for the next four years, featuring the most prominent voices shaping the national dialogue. From the Conventions to the Elections, the series will explore key questions concerning America’s role and interests in the world, bringing a foreign policy perspective to the conversation and addressing the most critical issues at the intersection between the domestic and international spheres.

Please join this conversation via the web application Zoom, which is accessible through your web browser, the Zoom desktop or mobile app, and by phone. If you wish to join the question and answer period, you must join by app or web. Register here to receive further information on how to join the virtual audience.

A conversation with

The Hon. Carlos Curbelo
Political Contributor
NBC News;
Former US Representative (R-FL26)

Dr. Jonathan Pershing
Program Director, Environment
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation;
Former Special Envoy for Climate Change
US Department of State

The Hon. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall
Distinguished Professor of the Practice, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Georgia Institute of Technology;
Former Deputy Secretary of Energy
US Department of Energy

The Hon. Christine Todd Whitman
Former Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency;
Former Governor
New Jersey
 

Moderated by

David Goldwyn
President
Goldwyn Global Strategies;
Chairman
Atlantic Council Energy Advisory Group;
Former Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs
US Department of State

RSVP for the Info Session: https://bit.ly/FJF2021

Georgia Tech Federal Jackets Fellowship - Spring/Summer 2021

Offered each semester, selected students work full-time in federal government offices in and around Washington, D.C. for 16 weeks in the spring or 10 weeks in the summer. The opportunity includes a $7,500 stipend in the spring and a $5,000 stipend in the summer to offset expenses (housing, transportation, and living expenses). This program is open to both undergraduate (sophomore and above) and graduate students of all majors. International students are eligible to apply; however, some federal offices only accept applications from United States citizens.

Quick Facts:

• Work for the federal government in Washington, D.C.
• Students pursue their own internship position based on career interests.
• Offered every semester; open to both undergraduate and graduate students of all majors.
• Application Deadline (Spring and Summer): September 17, 2020 at 5pm
• Earn $7,500 stipend for spring program (16 weeks) or $5,000 for summer program (10 weeks).
• Eligible for course credit.
• Learn more >

The Future of a Pandemic Economy

Featuring:

Dennis Lockhart

Former President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Board Member, World Affairs Council of Atlanta

Atlanta-based Business & the World

Friday, May 8, 2020

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM ET

No one needs to see through the end of COVID-19 to know that it has already disrupted the global economy. The uncertainty is how bad the economic impact will be as the pandemic is far from over, according to health experts.

Businesses have shut down. Some may shut down permanently.

Unemployment has skyrocketed. Individuals are facing financial anxiety while policymakers have been put on the spot to deliver an effective macroeconomic policy response for a crisis that may be worse than the Great Recession.

Dennis Lockhart, former President and CEO of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank, will share his views on the state of the US economy, how effective economic policy actions have been so far and what else can be done. Lockhart, who led the Atlanta Fed throughout the 2008 financial crisis, will discuss how this situation is different and what we should expect in the years to come.

This program is exclusive for World Affairs Council of Atlanta MEMBERS ONLY.

Already a member?  REGISTER HERE

*Registration required. Zoom details will be sent the morning of the program*

Follow along on Instagram to learn more!