Beyond Buzzwords: Understanding the Challenges of Sustainability in Theory and Practice

Sustainability is a guiding principle for governments, researchers, and communities—but what does it really mean? Despite its widespread use, defining sustainability remains a challenge, and its pursuit varies across disciplines.

Join the Grand Challenge Scholars Program (GCSP) and the Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) for an interdisciplinary discussion on the complexities of sustainability. Our keynote speaker,Andrea Pierce (Associate Professor in the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration at the University of Delaware) will explore the broad foundations of sustainability while experts from anthropology, geography and environmental systems, engineering, and beyond will share insights on the real-world challenges and opportunities in building a sustainable future. Dr. Maria Sanchez will moderate a Q&A session and provide details on opportunities for students to get involved in the Grand Challenge Scholars Program. 

Whether you are interested in policy, urban planning, environmental systems, or other sustainability-related fields, this event will offer a dynamic conversation on how sustainability is defined, debated, and applied in practice.

Food will be provided at the event, so we ask that you please register on myUMBC by clicking “Going” below.  

Keynote Speaker

Andrea L. Pierce (formerly Sarzynski) is the Director of Undergraduate Studies​ and Associate Professor at the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, with a joint appointment in the Department of Geography. Her research examines the intersections of urban and environmental policy, governance, land use, sustainability, and resilience. Recent projects have been funded by the Belmont Forum’s Sustainable Urbanisation Global Initiative and the United States Department of Transportation. She previously held professional positions in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the environmental law practice at Sidley Austin LLP. She holds a Ph.D. and M.P.P. from The George Washington University and a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University.

Panelists

Dr. Lee Blaney

Lee received his BS and MS degrees in Environmental Engineering from Lehigh University. After completing his PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, he started as an Assistant Professor of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he is now Professor. Lee also serves as President of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) and Executive Editor at the Journal of Hazardous Materials. He is the recipient of the ES&T James J. Morgan Early Career Award, the National Science Foundation Career Award, and the AEESP Award for Outstanding Teaching in Environmental Engineering and Science.

Dr. Özgür Çapraz
Dr. Çapraz is an associate professor in Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. They completed their B.S., Ph.D. and post-doctoral studies at Middle East Technical University, Iowa State University and the University of Illinois, respectively. Their research focuses on electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices, in situ chemo-mechanical characterization techniques, and advanced materials. Their research group is investigating instability mechanisms beyond Li-ion batteries. Their research group has been supported by various agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Binational Science Foundation, the Air Force, and NASA. 

Dr. Matthew Fagan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.  He received a Ph.D. from Columbia University with a dissertation on changes in forest connectivity in northern Costa Rica.  He is interested in applying remote sensing and GIS techniques to solve problems in conservation and ecology.  

Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith serves as UMBC's Assistant Director of Sustainability, leading the Office of Sustainability since 2023.  Taylor previously worked in the private sector as an environmental engineer and sustainability consultant, supporting sustainable redevelopment, fleet electrification, and renewable energy projects.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware, and earned his MBA through the University of Vermont’s sustainable innovation graduate program.  Taylor is a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) and a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Maryland. 

Taylor has extensive experience collaborating across State and Federal agencies, engineering firms, contractors, and non-profit organizations. He is helping UMBC enhance its environmental sustainability footprint while continuing to be a leader in education for greater-Baltimore. A life-long learner, Taylor loves working at an academic institution that authentically supports sustainability and environmental stewardship.  He is currently pursuing his Certificate in Spanish Studies at UMBC.  Outside of his professional life, Taylor is an avid gardener, runner, and food enthusiast. Taylor was raised in Maryland and currently lives in Baltimore City.

Ming Xie
Ming Xie is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Ming was an Assistant Professor and the Emergency Management Administration Program Director at the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at West Texas A&M University from 2020 to 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Her research interests focus on vulnerable communities' disaster preparedness and resilience, nonprofit and public management, organizational communication, civil society, intercultural communication, and information technology.