Every Month as part of our CUNY CREST Monthly Bulletin, the CUNY CREST Institute Executive Director, Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi, sends a message to the CUNY CREST Community on updates of the organization.
Below is the message for February 2022 sent to faculty, colleagues, stakeholders, and peers of the CUNY CREST Institute.
CREST Institute began the month of February by joining the tradition of celebrating and recognizing the Black History Month (BHM). We acknowledged the 2022 BHM Theme – Black Health and Wellness. We salute the Black Americans across the country and in CREST Institute, who have achieved many laurels through their contributions to various fields including science, health, and technology. Black History Month is a time to not only acknowledge, but also to educate our community of the Black/African American individuals who play a vital role in the CUNY CREST institute.
We are grateful to have a diverse pool of scientists that strive to achieve the Institute’s mission of advancing remote sensing and earth systems, transforming science into innovative products, training scientists and leaders, nurturing business opportunities, fostering inclusive partnerships, and promoting environmental and climate justice. To honor Black History Month the CUNY CREST Institute Team has created a special feature that highlights the Black/African American scientists we have in our own community:
Dr. Neal Phillip, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Technology at Bronx Community College
Dr. Kibrewossen Tesfagiorgis, Associate Professor, Dept. of Science at the Borough of Manhattan Community College
Dr. Reginald Blake, Interim Associate Provost, Dean of Curriculum and Research and Dir. of Center for Remote Sensing and Earth System Science at the NYC College of Technology
Dr. Nathan Hosannah, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Math, Engineering & Computer Science at LaGuardia Community College
The featured scientists have been interviewed on their experience as a person of color in the STEM fields and how they can inspire others! The Monthly Bulletin highlights their inspiring interviews. The full interviews can be found on the CUNY CREST Institute website.
Environmental justice is a major topic of interest, the CUNY CREST Institute will be focusing on. We plan to produce and nourish environmental justice research to underserved communities by producing beneficial research products and datasets. We are in the process of collaborating with SoHarlem, an organization located in Harlem with a mission to create equitable opportunities in Harlem through cultural industries workforce development, and WEACT, an Environmental Justice Alliance within NYC. This partnership will not only help encourage speaking on environmental justice, but also, bring this conversation to a new diverse group of peoples.
The CUNY CREST High School Initiative in Remote Sensing of the Earth Systems Engineering and Sciences (HIRES) has recently opening their application for Summer of 2022! We are recruiting 25-30 students this year, HS Junior and Seniors who may (or may not) have taken PSAT and/or SAT, but have taken Calculus, Trigonometry/Algebra courses, that will benefit in seeking 3-college credits. The program also provides $1000 Summer Stipend, and an opportunity to work on cutting-edge research with focus on Climate, Water, Weather, Ecosystem Services, Social and Environmental Justice. More information can be found below and on the HIRES website . Please share with high school students who may be interested!
We are proud of the work and achievements from our community! Please do not forget to share any information on recent grants, academic articles, or anything other information that you would like to share with the CUNY CREST Institute community to our Administrative Associate, Carolina Perez (cperez1@ccny.cuny.edu).
Reza Khanbilvardi
