CEE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in partnership with the

CEE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
is pleased to present

The Civil Empowerment Seminar Series:

Janet Hering
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science & Technology
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Change the System, Not the Women

Change the System, Not the Women

REGISTER HERE

October 2, 2024
Meet & Greet: 11-11:40 a.m. | Clark Hall Forum (1101)
Seminar: 12-1 p.m. | Hybrid format (Zoom)
Moderator: Dr. Birthe Kjellerup, Associate Professor, UMD Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

From Our Speaker
Despite many arguments for increasing the representation of women in academic leadership in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM), progress continues to be slow. Presentations on this topic often start with a description of the problem. Since I would prefer not to spend time on this, I have posted a list of five “starting points of (assumed) agreement” that can be viewed or downloaded by using the QR code below. With this, I hope to have more time for discussion, which can include the “starting points” if I have overestimated our agreement. My presentation will address the systemic barriers to women’s advancement and how they can be overcome. I will explore these issues in the context of the responsibility of universities and academic research institutions to address major challenges facing society.

Bio
Since 2023, Janet Hering has been Director Emerita of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science & Technology (Eawag) and Professor Emerita at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETHZ) and Lausanne (EPFL). Prior to moving to Switzerland in 2007, Prof. Em. Hering was a faculty member at Caltech and UCLA. She is a former Associate Editor of Environmental Science & Technology and former member of the Board of Reviewing Editors for Science. She is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Academia Europaea.

Moderator: Dr. Birthe Kjellerup, Associate Professor, UMD Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr. Birthe V. Kjellerip is Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland and Director of the Biofilms Laboratory; she is also founder and editor of the journal Biofilms. Dr. Kjellerup serves as chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at the CEE department.

About the Civil Empowerment Seminar Series

MISSION STATEMENT: Civil and environmental engineering is integral to everyday life for all people in our society, from drinking water and sanitation to the homes we live in and the roads we take. However, with devastating recent examples such as lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan and the disproportionately high mortality rates of COVID-19 in communities of color, it is clear that the beneficial work of civil and environmental engineers is not always equitably distributed. This seminar series aims to bring innovative and dynamic speakers to discuss their work in connection to current issues of social justice in civil and environmental engineering. These challenges are often complex, and will be assessed from the perspectives of people from academia, policy, industry, nonprofits, and government. Through this series, we aim to challenge our CEE community and beyond to view topics from different lenses and find creative and people-focused solutions to great civil and environmental engineering problems of today.

Speakers will be from both within and outside of civil and environmental engineering and represent a variety of backgrounds and identities. The talk will be open to all members of the UMD community. A short section of the talk will be open for a personal reflection by the speaker on career path, challenges overcome, and strategies for success.

Civil and environmental engineering is integral to everyday life for all people in our society, from drinking water and sanitation to the homes we live in and the roads we take. However, with devastating recent examples such as lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan and the disproportionately high mortality rates of COVID-19 in communities of color, it is clear that the beneficial work of civil and environmental engineers is not always equitably distributed. This seminar series aims to bring innovative and dynamic speakers to discuss their work in connection to current issues of social justice in civil and environmental engineering. These challenges are often complex, and will be assessed from the perspectives of people from academia, policy, industry, nonprofits, and government. Through this series, we aim to challenge our CEE community and beyond to view topics from different lenses and find creative and people-focused solutions to great civil and environmental engineering problems of today.

Speakers will be from both within and outside of civil and environmental engineering and represent a variety of backgrounds and identities. The talk will be open to all members of the UMD community. A short section of the talk will be open for a personal reflection by the speaker on career path, challenges overcome, and strategies for success.

Please see the flyer for the first seminar event here: Inaugural CEE DEI Seminar 102021

Dear CEE Students,

In the past few days, we have seen a surge in violence towards Asians and Americans of Asian descent across the country. The CEE DEI Chair, the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs, and the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Programs strongly condemn this violence and we stand with our Asian and Asian-descent students. Some of our students are anxious and afraid, and we, as a department would like to offer support.

If you are a student that knows an Asian or Asian-descent student, please ask them how they are and offer your support;

Offer to accompany students that are afraid to walk on campus by themselves;

If you see something, say something;

Please reach out to the DEI Committee if you need any additional support.

Let's stand in unity against any violence that may reach the students of our department.

CEE DEI Chair, Associate Chair for Graduate Programs, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Programs.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) establishes the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and associate professor Birthe Kjellerup will serve as the Chair for the DEI Committee.

Current Committee Members:

Professor Birthe Kjellerup

Committee Chair

Amir Riyahi

CEE Graduate Student

Rubina Hasanat

CEE Undergraduate Student

Bilal Ayyub

CEE Faculty

Cleopatra White

CEE Staff

In 2020, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, consisting of volunteer faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate members. The committee meets once a month to have open, candid, and challenging discussions about DEI efforts across the department as well as the field of civil and environmental engineering at large.

Vision

Promote a culture of respect, equity and inclusiveness that allows all members of our community to thrive and succeed.
Promote and sustain a culture that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion as being essential to the mission and continued excellence.
Leadership in advocating effort in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Mission

Engage and empower students, faculty, and staff from underrepresented backgrounds, andto build toa diverse and inclusive community.
Encourage diversification of the department through education, advocacy, and outreach.
Raising awareness about conscious and unconscious bias, and working towards solving these bias.
Highlight available resources within the local community, and identify working solutions for potential issues that arise within our department. create a safe/supportive/ network inside the department.
Establishing modes/lines of communication between groups.