Register here: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsdu2hpj8oGtAmOMQutMK8Ru_MizvZiUGf

Every year, the New York State Water Resources Institute (NYSWRI) at Cornell supports research that addresses critical water resource issues in New York State and the nation. The seminar will focus on ways in which robust science can support and influence on-ground water management and policy outcomes, and center collaborative and interdisciplinary work between academics, water resource scientists, educators, managers, and policymakers.

Abstract: 

This project has two parts. The first involves assessing the state of knowledge around Green Infrastructure (GI) and Equity within the GI planning community within New York State. The second involves using this assessment to inform knowledge dissemination about existing concerns around equity and GI and strategies to address them. The second goal will also leverage existing research to action networks within the state and Nationally (e.g. Kresge funded CREWS and the GI Leadership Exchange) to disseminate best practices across the state. Current state of knowledge will be assessed through an online survey instrument disseminated to municipal green infrastructure planners and watershed groups and through existing partners. Survey results will be analyzed and disseminated through a peer reviewed publication and public facing short report on current equity issues with NYS GI planning, and hosted on the platform www.giequity.org on a New York State specific webpage. A research to action network around equity in GI will be built through a fully online workshop. The workshop will discuss results and connect practitioner and research communities to facilitate co-learning and identify further opportunities to embed equity concerns within pending state and local GI policy and programs, including the Climate Smart Communities and NYS Climate Act.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Zbigniew J. Grabowski is an Associate Extension Educator in Water Quality for UConn Extension and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. Z brings his expertise in green infrastructure, just transitions, and systems approaches to address intersecting social and environmental challenges related to water. He has previously worked at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, The Breakthrough Institute, The Urban Systems Lab at The New School, and the Technical University of Munich’s Research Training Group on Urban Green Infrastructure. He completed his BS and MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Conservation Biology and Biodiversity at UConn, and received a PhD in Environmental Science and Resources through Portland State University’s NSF-IGERT focused on Ecosystem Services for Urbanizing Regions.

Libby Zemaitis leads the Climate Change Program at the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program. Her team helps communities adapt to climate change and build resilience to flooding, heat and social risks using nature-based solutions, in collaboration with the DEC Office of Climate Change and other state agency and non-profit partners. The Climate Change team is committed to incorporating environmental justice into their work and the state's Climate Smart Communities program. Libby grew up in the Hudson Valley where she has spent the last 15 years working on climate change, clean tech and sustainable business. She did her M.B.A. in Strategic Management and M.S. in Climate Science and Policy from Bard College, and a B.A. in Geology from Vassar College.