NC-ACS Climate Change and Sustainability Seminar

NC-ACS Climate Change and Sustainability Seminar
Register here for this event.
Description:
Climate change is one of the defining issues of this century, and scientific research and communication are powerful tools to address its challenges. This seminar, sponsored by the Younger Chemists Committee (YCC) of the North Carolina local section of the American Chemical Society (NC-ACS), will highlight the work of Triangle-area scientists whose research addresses challenges related to climate change and sustainability.

The event will feature mini-talks with ample time for discussion. Please stay tuned for more information about speakers. The event is open to all members of the local Triangle community. Dinner will be provided. Dinner at 5:30, Mini-talks begin at 6.

Please email ncacs.ycc@gmail.com with any questions.

Speakers:
Professor Walt Robinson, Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, NC State

Born in Brooklyn, Professor Robinson studied physics in college and atmospheric sciences for his Ph.D. He’s a professor at NC State, teaching courses in atmospheric and environmental sciences; currently, he’s interim Director of the NC State Climate Office.

Talk Overview: One of the most worrying anticipated outcomes of climate change is an increase in flooding rains. This talk will discuss why this is expected, the evidence that it’s already happening, and how we do research to answer questions like “how bad will it get” (but also why this is a hard question to answer).

Professor Yuan Yao, Sustainability Systems Analysis Lab, NC State

Dr. Yao is an Assistant Professor of Sustainability Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University (NCSU), where she leads the Sustainability Systems Analysis Lab and interdisciplinary research for sustainability at the College of Natural Resources. She got her Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University in the U.S. and a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Northeastern University in China. She also has a Management for Scientists and Engineers from Kellogg Business School. Dr. Yao received the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early CAREER Award in 2019, the most prestigious award from the NSF to junior faculty in the United States.

Research overview: Dr. Yao’s research is motivated by the increasing need for sustainable engineering that can support industrial development without compromising the environment or depleting the resources for future generations. She uses interdisciplinary approaches in industrial ecology, sustainable engineering, and big data analytics to support engineering and policy decisions towards sustainable development of industries. She collaborates with U.S. national labs, energy consulting firms, and universities to develop quantitative analysis for accelerating Research, Development, and Deployment in renewable energy technologies, manufacturing processes, and sustainable bioeconomy.

Cari Furiness, Program Manager, Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

Ms. Furiness studied biology as an undergraduate and has been a Research Associate at NC State since completing her M.S. in forest ecology at Duke. She has played a long-term role coordinating precipitation monitoring sites in NC as part of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program National Trends Network. Her primary activities are currently in the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, a federal-university partnership hosted at NC State, whose mission is to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate.

Talk overview: This talk will describe some of the science implemented by the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, designed to contribute to understanding the exposure and impacts of changing climate and land use on natural and cultural resources in the Southeast and to framing decisions about adaptation strategies.

Register here for this event.