2018 Conference

Full Presentation Panel

With increasing extreme weather patterns, global climate change, social unrest and human migrations -- loss of critical services to sustain populations has never been more stark. The recent hurricanes in the Caribbean have been a clear example of sheer devastation as has been the heat waves in Australia, and earthquakes in Mexico City and in Asia - all in January 2018 in Mayanmar - Burma, Pakistan and Indonesia.  Much analysis and planning and commercialization of approaches on resilient infrastructure that can sustain critical functions of electricity delivery, access to clean water, and continuity of operations for healthcare, water & sewage treayment plants, communications and data centers (internet), and transportation systems are being considered and in some cases adopted. Success requires interdisciplinary thinking, planning, and efffectuating proven solutions in novel, practical, and cost-effective ways. A focus on these processes looking at system segmentation, renewable resources assessment, load managmenet and controls, microgrids & community energy systems all dedicated and/or focussed on critical infrastructure will be discussed outlining resources, case studies, and bluntly discussing new ways we all need to drive education, analysis, and business to meet new realities in the 21st Century.  The four presentors have long experience in various aspects of this issue -- are all Adjunct Professors also with solid global private sector experience in the field:  Dr. Paul Sullivan, Adjunct Prof National Defense University (NDU), Georgetown University (DC) on assessing risk, Scott Sklar, Adjunct Prof, The George Washington University (GWU) on hybrid energy systems, Hyon Rah, Adjunct Professor, University of the District of Columbia (DC) on hybrid water systems, and Peter Fox Penner Adjunct Professor, Boson University (BU) (MA) who also runs BU's Sustainability Institute who will focus on sustainability planning and regulatry drivers. The purpose of this panel is not only to bring everyone up-to-date in this field, but to neggage discussion how different disciplines need to team in miore proactive and practical ways to accelerate adoption and utilization of these more resilient, sustainable approaches.