Discover more about CUNY Black, Race and Ethnic Studies Initiative (BRESI) Grant Recipient, Dr. Marzi Azarderakhsh of the New York City College of Technology.
Dr. Marzi Azarderakhsh was one of the professors from the New York City College of Technology (City Tech) selected as a CUNY Black, Race and Ethnic Studies Initiative (BRESI) Grant Recipient for her proposal titled, “Providing Mentored Student Research Opportunity to Achieve Equity and Environmental”. The BRESI Council established from the Office of the Chancellor awarded this grant. Co-PIs of the project were Dr. Reginald Blake and Dr. Hamidreza Norouzi of City Tech.
BRESI looked for individuals whose projects focused on advancing social and racial justice within the academic environment. More than 500 proposals were submitted to the BRESI council to determine proposals that could further push BRESI’s mission throughout CUNY. 126 proposals were selected for funding. Three City Tech professors were chosen as grant recipients, Dr. Renata Ferdinand, Dr. Laura Westerngard, and Dr. Marzi Azarderakhsh.
Dr. Azaderakhsh is an Associate Professor of the department of Construction Management and Civil Engineering Technology. The CUNY CREST Institute had the pleasure of welcoming her as one of the affiliated scientists in September of 2022.
Proposal Title: Providing Mentored Student Research Opportunity to Achieve Equity and Environmental
Summary: Neighborhood-scale partnerships between research students and citizens are essential to the pursuit of grassroots equity and environmental justice in underserved locales. Satellite and ground-based remote sensing techniques can be creatively used to inform the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of their race or color. This project, seeks to provide mentored research opportunities for two undergraduate students along with other leveraged students supported by other programs such as City Tech’s Black Male Initiative (BMI) program. Their research projects will integrate earth observations and social and demographic data to create pathways to greater equity and environmental justice for the neediest among us.
