COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Experts and leaders, including City of Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson, will convene on Aug. 17 at the Zachry Engineering Education Complex at Texas A&M University to discuss the technological, ecological and societal challenges natural disasters pose to food, energy and water systems. 

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022
Workshop: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Plenary discussion: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Zachry Engineering Education Complex (ZACH), Texas A&M University, Chevron Room (located on 2^nd floor)

This event is part of a series of regional workshops hosted across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi through the Disaster Resilient Food Energy Water Systems (DIRE-FEWS) Convergence Research Initiative, an effort sponsored by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant on Sustainable Regional Systems Research Network.

The goal of the DIRE-FEWS workshops is to gather a diverse group of experts from academic and non-academic institutions and relevant stakeholder groups. This is expected to lead to meaningful partnerships that develop research, education and outreach activities aimed at preparing the Gulf coast for disasters.

The workshop agenda is available at tx.ag/DIREFEWSWorkshopAgenda. 

Plenary speakers:

• Andrew Nelson, Mayor of the City of Bryan, CEO and Co-Founder of Lisam America
• Claude Griffin, Executive Director of U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development
• Kathy Clark, Associate Director of Emergency Disaster Services at The Salvation Army-Texas Division
• Amit Mukherjee, Executive Director of NU Generation Foundation, Inc. and Former Lead Public Sector Specialist, World Bank
• Pamela Plotkin, Director of Texas Sea Grant

Welcome remarks:

• Yossef Elabd, Vice Chancellor for Research at Texas A&M University
• John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas State Climatologist and Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Southern Regional Climate Center and Texas A&M University
• Nim Kidd, Chief at Texas Division of Emergency Management (Video Message)

Event sponsors:

• Texas Sea Grant
• Texas Engineering Experimentation Station (TEES)
  • TEES Gas & Fuels Research Center
  • TEES Texas A&M University Energy Institute

 

Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the State of Texas and universities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Texas. It is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is one of 34 university-based Sea Grant Programs around the country. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research center at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.

 

As an engineering research agency of Texas, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) performs quality research driven by world problems; strengthens and expands the state’s workforce through educational partnerships and training; and develops and transfers technology to industry. TEES partners with academic institutions, governmental agencies, industries and communities to solve problems to help improve quality of life, promote economic development and enhance educational systems.