October 31, 2012
Dear Board Member,
This month we introduce Matei Georgescu, a Sustainability Scientist working on the impacts of bioenergy expansion and the climate effects of fast-growing megapolitans. We also highlight four student sustainability scholarship winners. Please feel free to email or call us with any questions or comments about this briefing. Thanks to all who participated in our October meeting at ASU.
Best regards,
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 Q&A with Matei Georgescu
Note: Matei “Matt” Georgescu is a Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability, assistant professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, and adjunct faculty at the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. His work focuses on the environmental impacts of renewable energy expansion, as well as the water and climate effects resulting from large-scale urbanization. Prior to joining ASU in 2010, he conducted research in the Center on Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University and, while at Rutgers, was the recipient of a NASA Earth System Science Fellowship.
When did sustainability become an important part of your research?
Although my research has gradually integrated sustainability elements from my days as an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, it wasn’t until I arrived at ASU in the summer of 2010 that sustainability became a special focus. ASU’s campus-wide emphasis and concerted efforts toward sustainability-related research were essential in facilitating this focus.
What are your most important sustainability-related research projects?
First, I am a principal investigator of a five-year bioenergy project funded by the National Science Foundation under its Water Sustainability and Climate initiative. This project, which includes Sustainability Scientists from across ASU, focuses on the long-term sustainability of growing perennial grasses for ethanol production in the United States. These perennial grasses, such as miscanthus and switchgrass, offer significant advantages over their annual competitors, such as maize. Read more »
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Hyejung Lim, Ray Anderson Memorial Scholarship Winner
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Hyejung Lim, a School of Sustainability ambassador, received the Ray Anderson Scholarship for her work in sustainability consulting. Read more » |
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Christine Soboleski, Chipotle Scholarship Winner
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Christine Soboleski, co-founder of Real Food ASU, was awarded the Chipotle Scholarship for her involvement in the campus community and promoting sustainable food systems. Read more » |
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McKenzie Ragan, Norton and Ramsey Scholarship Winner
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McKenzie Ragan was given the Norton and Ramsey Scholarship for her passion in social justice and broad range of international study. Read more » |
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Jaleila Brumand, Read Scholarship Winner
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Jaleila Brumand received the Read Scholarship for her studies in environmental sciences and engagement in the student community. Read more » |
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Sustainability Scientists to explore large-scale deployment of biomass energy crops
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A $1.5 million, NSF-granted project brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds to identify sustainable bioenergy crop hot spots on degraded and abandoned farmland across the U.S. Read more » |
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Software maps greenhouse gas emissions to building, street level for U.S. cities
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The software, developed by Kevin Gurney, assists in lowering emissions, overcoming barriers to joining the international climate change treaty, and informing personal daily decisions. Read more » |
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Local farmers can help solve food security challenges
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Sustainability Scientist Netra Chhetri's research argues that Nepal's farmer-led technological innovation can improve resilience to climate variability and change. Read more » |
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ASU physicist discusses climate change in Slate Magazine's, 'Future Tense'
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In his article, "Bombing the Test", professor Lawrence Krauss compares the Republican and Democratic platforms on nuclear energy and its environmental effects. Read more » |
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Sustainability scientist honored for 4 decades of seminal research in urban climatology
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Anthony J. Brazel receives the Helmet E. Landsberg Award for 2013 from the American Meteorological Society's Board on the Urban Environment for his interdisciplinary research that spans across climate sciences. Read more »
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ASU hosts third Arizona Solar Summit
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SkySong, Lightworks, and the Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development hosted Arizona Solar Summit III: Game Changers which focused on local solar projects, policy challenges, and future opportunities. Read more »
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Creative teaching approaches put spotlight on sustainability scientist
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Thomas Seager, who developed games to teach engineering ethics, is chosen to share his research at the Frontiers of Engineering Education Symposium this month. Read more »
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ASU's Biodesign Institute scientists use heat to refine renewable biofuel production
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Professor Roy Curtiss from the School of Life Sciences and colleague Xinyao Liu have been genetically optimizing cyanobacteria for biofuel production, naming the method "The Green Recovery." Read more »
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Study of 'forest killer' plant explores our vulnerability to rapid environmental change
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Sustainability scientists are studying the social and ecological systems surrounding the exotic plant and are developing an educational intervention experiment to hopefully slow the spread of invasive species. Read more »
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Sustainability Scientists research morality in food choices
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Joan McGregor and Leah Gerber hope that targeting people’s morals rather than their rational thoughts will be an effective way to promote healthy, ethical, and sustainable food selections. Read more »
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