January 20th, by Dr. Maestre
The SETx-UIFL Spring Seminar Series 2025 offers a great opportunity to engage with SETx-UIFL researchers addressing critical challenges in resilience, sustainability, and innovation. This year weekly seminar series will take place every other Friday at 10 AM, starting January 24, 2025. Join us to explore advanced research and practical solutions tailored to the needs of Southeast Texas.
About the Series
The Spring Seminar Series is designed to provide participants with in-depth insights into cutting-edge topics in climate resilience, natural and man-made environments, disaster management, and environmental sustainability. Each seminar features expert presentations followed by discussions and Q&As.
2025 Seminar Schedule and Details
- January 24: Community-Driven Nature-Based Solutions
- Presenters: Galen Newman and Jingxi Peng (Texas A&M University), Zhihan Tao (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
- This session will focus on assessing the impact of nature-based solutions (NBS) on flooding in Beaumont and Port Arthur. It will examine the aftermath of Tropical Storm Imelda in the City of Beaumont, with a specific focus on the role of urban parks in facilitating the recovery of foot traffic at business points of interest. Also, an engagement-based master plan created for Port Arthur will be presented, along with the projected impact of the suggested NBS on flood resilience in the community of Montrose.
- February 7: Culturally Responsive Disaster Management for Limited Resource Producers
- Presenter: Noel Estwick (Prairie View A&M University)
- This session will focus on a multi-institutional collaboration with Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers to enhance disaster education programming for limited-resource agricultural producers. The research that is part of an effort to strengthen the capacity of Extension at 1890 institutions and the communities they serve in all phases of disaster planning. Seminar participants will learn about how the team assessed the role culture plays in how Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers prepare for, cope with, and respond to disasters.
- February 21: Community-Engaged Research
- Presenter: Katherine Lieberknecht (University of Texas at Austin)
- Researchers on climate and resilience increasingly involve community members in climate and resilience projects to enhance relevance and impact. This provides a lot of value for the communities, but it is harder than it seems. This seminar will discuss the benefits and challenges of community-engaged research, with examples from SETx-UIFL team projects.
- March 7: Indoor Air
- Presenter: Kerry Kinney (University of Texas at Austin)
- Building and occupant factors influence indoor air quality in residential homes, schools, and other critical environments. This seminar will address both chemical and microbial contaminants, with a focus on conditions unique to the Beaumont/Port Arthur region.
- March 28: Marshes
- Presenters: Matt Hoch (Lamar University), Ben Sulman (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
- Marsh ecosystems occupy the interface between land, rivers, and oceans, and provide essential services such as habitat preservation, flood mitigation, and carbon sequestration. This session will examine how marshes respond to environmental changes, including restoration efforts, and outline the scientific methods used to evaluate and predict their resilience.
- April 11: Permeable Pavements
- Presenter: Liv Haselbach (Lamar University)
- Pervious concrete is a novel pavement material that provides a structured surface for transportation needs such as sidewalks, parking and low volume streets while also providing for stormwater management. An underlying aggregate storage bed can provide retention or detention to mitigate impacts of development on flooding and the stormwater systems. Come see more about this cool technology.
- April 25: Plan Integration for Resiliency Scorecard™
- Presenter: Siyu Yu (Texas A&M University)
- The resilience of the built and natural environments is strongly influenced by the development and growth management guidance provided by a community’s ‘network of plans’. This session will present the Plan Integration for Resiliency Scorecard™ (PIRS™), a tool used to evaluate inconsistencies in community planning that affect flood vulnerability. Case studies from Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas, will illustrate the tool’s application and potential impact.
How to Join
The seminars will be conducted online. Join the Zoom meeting (Meeting ID: 924 1540 5154). These sessions are open to students and researchers interested in advancing sustainability and resilience practices.
Mark your calendar and participate in the SETx-UIFL Spring Seminar Series 2025!