First UNU-Hub (R-SIRUS) Informational Session at CCNY

CREST hosted the first United Nations University (UNU) Hub — Remote-Sensing and Sustainable Innovations for Resilient Urban Systems (R-SIRUS) informational session for students at the City College of New York on May 22, 2025. The session aimed to introduce prospective CCNY students to the hub’s mission and showcase the diverse opportunities it offers, including research collaborations, internships, and academic engagement. It also provided guidance on how students can effectively leverage these opportunities to enhance their academic and professional growth.

During the session, Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi, Executive Co-Director of R-SIRUS discussed joint degree programs with the United Nations University and collaborative research opportunities, as well as shared insights into internships and career pathways in global sustainability, climate resilience, remote sensing. 

Students were introduced to the three foundational pillars of the Hub: Research, Development, and Innovation; Education, Training, and Capacity Building; and Policy, Advocacy, and Outreach. They explored how each pillar contributes to advancing the Hub’s mission. They also delved into the hub’s three core thematic areas: Emerging Technologies for Earth Monitoring and Remote Sensing of Urban Systems, Climate Change Impacts on Health in Underserved Urban Communities, and Energy Innovations for Sustainable Urban Environments.  

Attendees, online and in-person, were curious about the hub and asked great questions to explore ways they may engage with it. The session concluded with a networking opportunity allowing students to talk with the UNU-Hub R-SIRUS’s faculty and management. 

On November 5, 2024, the first UNU in the United States and the world’s first UNU hub uniquely focussed on the use of remote sensing and innovative technologies to work towards the sustainability of urban environments was launched at the CCNY of the City University of New York. Commenting on the success of the event, Dr. Khanbilvardi said, “Being the only UNU Hub in USA, provides a unique opportunity for both our students and faculty to get involved with a global network of professionals”