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Johns Hopkins SAIS to host “Cities as Innovation Centers: Investing in Resilient Infrastructure,” on Tuesday, April 24, 2018

MEDIA ADVISORY
 
“Cities as Innovation Centers: Investing in Resilient Infrastructure,” a presentation and panel discussion, will be held at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
 
Global infrastructure assets are increasingly at risk to the impacts of climate change. Losses due to weather-related events have increased to more than $110 billion today—of which only half was insured. Along with aging infrastructure in advanced economies, high growth rates in developing economies, and rapid urbanization, failure to invest in resilience now will result in the need for more costly interventions in the future.
 
Students in the Energy, Resources and Environment (ERE) Program — who collaborated with global infrastructure firm AECOM — will present their preliminary research findings on the traditional barriers to investing in resilience, best practices for implementing resilience, and general recommendations with case studies from four coastal cities: Washington, D.C., Singapore, Honolulu, and Rotterdam. The 2017-2018 ERE-AECOM Practicum Team focused on coastal cities that are exploring innovative solutions in response to rapid urbanization and increasing exposure to direct climate-related risks.
 
The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion featuring experts from the sectors of insurance and risk management, government, and project development who are taking steps to promote investment in resilient infrastructure.
 
The executive summary is available for download: Cities as Innovation Centers: Investing in Resilient Infrastructure
 
Agenda
 
5:00 – 5:15 p.m.
Opening Remarks
 
Peter M. Lewis
Vice Dean, Johns Hopkins SAIS
 
Celeste Connors
Associate Practitioner in Residence in the Energy, Resources and Environment Program, Johns Hopkins SAIS
 
5:15 – 5:35 p.m.
Presentation
 
2017-2018 ERE-AECOM Practicum Team:
Danny Jeon
Jingwei Jia
June Choi
 
Co-presenter:
Yan Fan
 
5:35 – 5:40 p.m.
Break
 
5:40 – 6:10 p.m.
Panel Discussion
 
Panelists:
Josh Sawislak
Global Director of Resilience, AECOM
 
Jo-Ellen Darcy
Former Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, United States Army
 
Samantha Medlock
Senior Vice President and Head of North America Capital, Science & Policy, Willis Towers Watson
 
Kevin Bush
Chief Resilience Officer, Government of the District of Columbia
 
Moderator:
Celeste Connors
Associate Practitioner in Residence in the Energy, Resources and Environment Program, Johns Hopkins SAIS
 
6:10 – 6:30 p.m.
Team and Panel Q&A
 
Time and Date
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
 
A reception will follow the conclusion of the event.
 
Location
Johns Hopkins SAIS
Rome Auditorium
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
 
Register
The event is open to the public and media, with registration. Members of the working press can request to cover the event by selecting “Media” on the online registration form. Final media access will be confirmed at least one day prior to the event. Pre-authorized camera setup will only be permitted from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
 
Media Contacts
Stacy A. Anderson
Communications Manager
Johns Hopkins SAIS
202.663.5620 office
202.853.7983 mobile
[email protected]
 
Jason Marshall
Senior Director, Public Relations
AECOM
646.432.8474
[email protected]
 
About Johns Hopkins SAIS
A division of Johns Hopkins University, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is a global institution that offers students an international perspective on today’s critical issues. For nearly 75 years, Johns Hopkins SAIS has produced great leaders, thinkers, and practitioners of international relations. Public leaders and private sector executives alike seek the counsel of the faculty, whose ideas and research inform and shape policy. Johns Hopkins SAIS offers a global perspective across three campus locations: Bologna, Italy; Nanjing, China; and Washington, D.C. The school’s interdisciplinary curriculum is strongly rooted in the study of international economics, international relations, and regional studies, preparing students to address multifaceted challenges in the world today.
 
For more information, visit sais-jhu.edu or @SAISHopkins
 
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Date: 
Thursday, April 19, 2018