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MCSI LEADING RESPONSE TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN SUSTAINABILITY “Sustainability problems are inherently global and multi-disciplinary. MCSI faculty have taken the lead in attacking the global plastics waste problem, leading to one of only six MacArthur Foundation Challenge Grants awarded globally, one of the first NSF Convergence grants (awarded in 2019), and one of the first two Pitt Momentum Challenge grants ever awarded. MCSI has created truly interdisciplinary teams to attack this significant problem, including faculty from multiple schools at Pitt and various universities.” -
Dr. Eric J. Beckman, Co-Director
INVITED LECTURES Dr. Melissa Bilec was invited by the Embassy of France in the US and the French Government to provide testimony on solutions to plastic pollution. Dr. Bilec presented her testimony to the Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment (OPECST), who are leading a study on plastic pollution. Following the testimony to OPECST, she also spoke at the workshop, Responding to Plastic Pollution through Science: from research to
action, in Le Mans, France.
Eric Beckman
“Global Plastics Waste Problem”, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, August, 2019.
Green Chemistry Summer School, Golden, CO, July, 2019
Melissa Bilec
“Circular Economy and Converging on Solutions for Plastics.” French Parliamentary Office for Scientific
and Technological Assessment (OPECST): Study on plastic pollution. Presentation to Senator Angele Preville and Depute Philippe Bolo, Paris, France, December 12, 2019.
“A Tale of Two Cities: Exploring Sustainability and Resilience Opportunities and Challenges.” The
University of New Mexico, NSF Workshop. 4th Annual Resilience Colloquium, Exploring Connections Between Urban and Rural Communities and Environments, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 6-7, 2019.
Invited Panelist for Ecodistricts Research Forum (National Conference). Eden Hall, Chatham University, November 3, 2019
“Convergence Around the Circular Economy.” Carnegie Mellon University, Civil and Environmental
Engineering, May 1, 2020, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“Are We Using Buildings to Inspire and Motivate Health and Sustainability?” Virginia Tech, Civil and
Environmental Engineering, Blacksburg, Virginia, February 7, 2020.
