Event

Sustainable Megacities: Food, Energy, Water, and the Built Environment

October 20, 2015

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NYIT and PKU Host World Experts at “Sustainable Megacities” Conference in Beijing
Experts from China and the United States met in Beijing on Oct. 20 and reiterated the need for a systems-based, coordinated response to the world’s critical food, energy, and water (FEW) challenges. Engineers, urban planners, and policymakers shared their perspectives at a conference co-hosted by New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) and Peking University (PKU), Sustainable Megacities: Food, Energy, Water, and the Built Environment.

“Megacities” of more than 10 million inhabitants are a critical area for research into the world’s FEW nexus. The pace of urbanization is increasing, and cities use more than their share of resources. While the earth’s freshwater reserves are in decline, demand for energy and food goes up.

In opening the conference, NYIT President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D. stressed the critical role of universities in helping cities face their challenges. “Universities do the research and development that help solve problems,” NYIT President Edward Guiliano said in his welcoming remarks. “We can say that cities made universities possible,” he added, “and universities return the favor. We make cities livable.”

Chunmiao Zheng, director of PKU's Institute of Water Sciences and dean of the School of Environment at South University of Science and Technology, welcomed guests on behalf of PKU.

Funding for this conference and workshop was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, with additional support from co-sponsors Wuhan University; the International School of Software, Wuhan University; South University of Science and Technology of China; Communication University of China; the American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIchE); HDR, Inc.; the Institute for Sustainability; and the International Society for Water Solution.

From the Conference

Agenda

8:15 a.m.	REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING
9 - 9:30 a.m.	WELCOME Nada ANID, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, NYIT OPENING REMARKS Edward GUILIANO, Ph.D., President, NYIT REMARKS Chunmiao Zheng, Ph.D., Director, Institute of Water Sciences, Peking University, and Dean, School of Environment, South University of Science and Technology Dongguang WEN, Ph.D., Department of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, China Geological Survey
9:30 - 10 a.m.	US-CHINA ECOPARTNERSHIP PROGRAM: GOALS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND OUTLOOK SPEAKERS Christopher R. KAVANAGH, Counselor for Environment, Science, Technology, and Health, U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China Haihong LI, Deputy Head, Division of American and Oceanian Affairs, Department of International Cooperation, National Development, and Reform Commission.
10 - 10:15 a.m.	BREAK AND VIP PHOTO SESSION
10:15 - 11:15 a.m.	SESSION 1: FOOD, ENERGY, WATER (FEW) TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES IN URBAN SETTINGS: GOVERNMENT AGENCIES’ PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES SPEAKERS Bruce HAMILTON, Ph.D., Program Director, U.S. National Science Foundation and Nancy SUNG, Ph.D., Head of Beijing Office, U.S. National Science Foundation Carl B. KRESS, Regional Director, East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Eurasia; Energy Sector Worldwide Team Leader, U.S. Trade and Development Agency Xiaojuan SHI, Director, Department of Pollution Prevention and Control, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China Yuanming Zheng, Project Manager, Department of Earth Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	PANEL 1: THRIVING IN AN ERA OF FEW RESOURCES CHOKE POINTS MODERATOR Frank MRUK, Associate Dean, School of Architecture and Design, NYIT OTHER PRESENTERS Jennifer L. TURNER, Director, China Environment Forum, Woodrow Wilson Center Keith SCHNEIDER, Senior Editor, Chief Correspondent, Circle of Blue Hasan SYED, Design Director, Principal, Gensler Yong ZHOU, Vice Director, Shandong Institute of Science & Technology Development Strategy Wilson LU, Assistant Professor, Department of Real Estate and Construction, University of Hong Kong
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	LUNCH
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.	SESSION 2: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND FEW MODERATOR AND PRESENTER Jeffrey RAVEN, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Design Program, NYIT OTHER PRESENTERS Terry COOKE, PH.D., Founder and Chairman, China Partnership of Greater Philadelphia Nazia HASAN, Graduate Student, School of Architecture and Design, NYIT Zhen ZHONG, Lecturer and Director of Environment Design Office at the Xiamen University School of Art
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.	PANEL 2: DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND SAFE, SMART CITIES MODERATOR Babak D. BEHESHTI, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, NYIT OTHER PRESENTERS Xiaohui CUI, Ph.D., Dean, International School of Software, Wuhan University Jonathan VORIS, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, NYIT James WEN, Executive Technology Adviser, Chief Solution Architect, IBM Emile YIN, Vice President, Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Co. Ltd
3:30 - 3:45 p.m.	BREAK
3:45 - 4:00 p.m.	WORKSHOP: FEW NEXUS IN SUSTAINABLE CITIES—GOALS AND OUTCOMES REMARKS Nada ANID, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, NYIT Chunmiao ZHENG, Ph.D., National Research Chair, Peking University; Dean, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, South University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China Learn about the workshop »
4 - 5:45 p.m.	WORKSHOP SESSION 1: FEW NEXUS—SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES CHAIR Jimmy TRAN, Program Manager II, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory PRESENTERS Junguo LIU, Ph.D., Professor, Beijing Forestry University Devinder MAHAJAN, Ph.D., SBU/BNL Joint Appointment, Professor, and Co-Director, Chemical and Molecular Engineering, Stony Brook University Lijin ZHONG, Senior Associate, China Water Lead, Water Program, World Resources Institute Paul ANID, Ph.D., Vice President, Water Quality Management Services, HDR