The City College of New York

Author Salar Abdoh’s Book Launch for “A Nearby Country Called Love: A Novel”

tklapwald@ccny.cuny.edu — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:20:40 +0000

Author Salar Abdoh’s Book Launch for “A Nearby Country Called Love: A Novel” tklapwald@ccny… Fri, 11/03/2023 - 13:20

CCNY Professor and author Salar Abdoh
CCNY Professor and author Emily Raboteau

The City College of New York’s Professor and author Salar Abdoh is launching his latest book “A Nearby Country Called Love: A Novel” (Viking, 2023) into bookstores and online November 7. To celebrate, Abdoh and fellow CCNY English Professor and author Emily Raboteau will hold an in-person conversation at the Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 7.30 p.m. Abdoh’s book gives a captivating window into contemporary Iran, and is a sweeping, propulsive novel about the families we are born into and the families we make for ourselves. The book has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from prominent publications, such as "Kirkus Reviews," "Publisher’s Weekly," "Foreign Affairs," "Pride Source," and "The Washington Post," where it was named a notable book. "Booklist" calls it “A poignant dark, dark dramedy exposing the elusive, performative nature of never quite true love.” Raboteau writes of the book, "Salar Abdoh writes masterfully against toxic masculinity in this intimate novel. I fell in love with his characters as they seek to cultivate tenderness in a culture of violence, and you will too." Born in Iran, Abdoh splits his time between Tehran and New York City. He is the author of the novels “Tehran at Twilight,” “The Poet Game,” “Opium,” and “Out of Mesopotamia” and the editor of “Tehran Noir.” He is the director of the Undergraduate Creative Writing at CCNY. A wine reception follows the talk. Make reservations for the free event here.

Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Thea Klapwald, CCNY Public Relations, T: 310.980.1231, E: tklapwald@ccny.cuny.edu

Macaulay Honors student Catherine Hernandez is CCNY’s 2023 Valedictorian; Kimberly Pereyra Monero is Salutatorian

jmwamba — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 02:34:29 +0000

Macaulay Honors student Catherine Hernandez is CCNY’s 2023 Valedictorian; Kimberly Pereyra Monero is Salutatorian jmwamba Tue, 04/18/2023 - 22:34

April 19, 2023

CCNY's Class of 2023 Valedictorian Catherine Hernandez [left] and Salutatorian Kimberly Pereyra Monero.

Catherine Hernandez, an anthropology major in the William E. Macaulay Honors College, is The City College of New York’s Class of 2023 Valedictorian. The daughter of a 1993 CCNY alumnus, Hernandez is graduating summa cum laude with a 3.98 GPA. She’ll receive a BA degree in anthropology with a minor in art history and Jewish studies.

Kimberly Pereyra Monero from the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership is the Salutatorian. A political science major and community change studies minor, she’s graduating with a BA degree and 3.90 GPA.

About Catherine Hernandez
Hernandez proudly considers herself “a product of City College from the moment I was born,” because of her alumnus father, Francisco Hernandez. The Cuban immigrant came to CCNY in 1991 with only enough tuition money to take one class per semester. However, financial aid, scholarships, and a quality education would see him earn a bachelor’s degree, enter law school after graduation, and begin a career as an immigration lawyer.

“For both me and my father, CCNY has been a place that allows immigrants and first-generation Americans to not only succeed but have the agency and power to aid in tearing down the systems that oppress their communities,” said Hernandez. “It’s my honor to represent this legacy of social mobility and social justice.”

A participant in two overseas archaeological projects in Ecuador and Barbados as an undergraduate, Hernandez has developed a focused, activist-oriented research interest in Indigeneity, cultural patrimony, and repatriation. In her research and career, she hopes to implement community-based archaeological practices and to liaison with descendent communities to ensure that they have agency over the ownership of their patrimony and the portrayal of their heritage in the museum setting.

At CCNY, Hernandez has participated in a number of fellowships, including the Colin Powell Fellowship in Leadership and Public Service, the Racial Justice Fellowship, and the Rockefeller Fellowship. She has also dedicated herself to the promotion of intersectional Feminist ideology as Co-President of the Macaulay Feminist Society NYC Collegiate Sexual Violence Prevention Changemaker.

Hernandez’ other accolades include the Lloyd Blankfein Scholarship, the Macaulay Opportunities Fund’s highest honor. The scholarship provides $5,000 in funding for a Macaulay Honors College student research conducted abroad. She also received the Rose and Herbert Rudin Award -- which offers a $2,000 research grant -- twice. She used the two grants to fund independent archival research and participate in the Walkers Estate Field School in Barbados.

Currently, Hernandez is a Curatorial Intern at the MoMA PS1, an Education Intern at the Morgan Library and Museum, and a Program Facilitator for Art and Resistance through Education (ARTE). Next year, the Manhattan resident plans on taking a gap year to apply for PhD programs in archaeology.

About Kimberly Pereyra Monero
CCNY’s Class of 2023 Salutatorian is a Brooklyn resident who emigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at age 15. Mentors hail her academic excellence, civic-minded leadership and community involvement that make her truly representative of the best of CCNY.
“For me, CCNY became a place of diversity, a place that teaches you how to be resilient, authentic, and how not to give up,” said Pereyra Monero.

A dynamo at CCNY, she dedicated three of her four years as an undergrad volunteering for Youth Over Guns, a community organization that advocates against gun violence. There were also other internships, with the US Water Alliance, the Leadership Justice Center, and the New York City Public Advocate’s Office.

Pereyra Monero was a Jeannette K. Watson Fellow (a three-year, citywide fellowship centered on public service), a Colin Powell Fellow, and a Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom LLP and affiliates Legal Honors Scholar. She is the 2022-2023 recipient of The Daphne and Stuart Wells Public Service Scholarship and was a finalist this spring for a Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

Pereyra Monero has been working as a project assistant at The Leadership Justice Center for Democracy and Social Justice, an institute devoted to fostering the next generation of social justice leaders. She is also interning at Vocal NY as a legislative intern and is planning to attend law school next.

About the City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Emsi puts at $1.9 billion CCNY’s annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the “for dollar” return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. This year, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign, ever. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together” seeks to bring the College’s Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.

About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Lightcast puts at $3.2 billion CCNY’s annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the “for dollar” return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. In 2023, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign, ever. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together” seeks to bring the College’s Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.

Jay Mwamba
p: 917.892.0374
e: jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu

Pandemic Resources

liocin — Fri, 01 May 2020 00:07:43 +0000

Pandemic Resources liocin Thu, 04/30/2020 - 20:07

Dear CCNY Community,

During this difficult time, the CCNY Counseling Center would like to present our Letters to Home series. A weekly newsletter filled with information on how to care for your mental health.

Letters to Home - Managing Pandemic Stress

Letters to Home - Maintaining Social Connections While Social Distancing

Letters to Home - Working from Home with Kids

Letters to Home - Tips for Transitioning to Online Learning

Letters to Home - Self-Care

Letters to Home - Creating Routines and Structure

Letters to Home - Conversations of Boundaries

Letters to Home – Finding Movement at Home

Letters to Home – Mindfulness and Gratitude

Letters to Home – Processing the End of the School Year

Letters to Home – Adjusting Back

Letters to Home – Living Through a Mental Health Crisis

Letters to Home – Skills to Prepare for Exams

Letters to Home – Preparing for the Holidays and Winter Break

Job Opportunities

ndevineni@ccny.cuny.edu — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:57:53 +0000

Job Opportunities ndevineni@ccny… Wed, 06/06/2018 - 11:57

FULL-TIME FACULTY OPPORTUNITIES

There are no openings currently

How to apply: Apply through CUNY jobs at https://cuny.jobs/

FULL-TIME STAFF OPPORTUNITIES

There are no openings currently

How to apply: Apply through CUNY jobs at https://cuny.jobs/

PART-TIME FACULTY OPPORTUNITIES for Spring 2025

Faculty for CE 40500 CE Management on Mondays 6:30-9pm

Introduction to civil engineering management; project life cycle. Development of a project team for effective delivery; project delivery roles. Roles, rights, and obligations of civil engineers. Ethical and professional responsibilities of civil engineers. Project life cycle analysis. Project costs and financing. Project administration; change orders, claims and dispute resolution. Individual and group assignments. Pre-requisites: CE 31600 CE Decision and Systems Analysis, and CE 34000 Structural Analysis.

Faculty for CE 54800 Transit Planning and Operations on Thursdays 6:30-9pm

Basic techniques of service area analysis, route development, scheduling, revenue estimation, and service improvements for fixed route bus and rail transit. Integration of fixed route transit with paratransit, matching mode with service area, relationship of transportation department with other departments, budgeting, and policy setting also will be discussed. Pre-requisite: CE 32600 Transportation Planning or equivalent.

Faculty for CE I3000 Structural Dynamics on Tuesday 6:30-9pm

Vibrations of elastic structures: Single degree and multi-degree-of-freedom systems; free and forced vibration; harmonic, impulsive and arbitrary loading; lumped parameter models. Analysis of dynamic response: Modal superposition; Numerical integration: introduction to inelastic behavior. Structural response to earthquake and wind loads. Damping characteristics of structures: Viscous, Viscoelastic and Friction Damping. Tuned mass dampers, passive energy dissipation systems.

How to apply:

Our students benefit from learning "the practice" from licensed practicing engineers. And so, we are looking for passionate, articulate, and capable part-time instructors to join our faculty. All courses are coordinated by a full time faculty to ensure consistency in content, quality of teaching, and student learning expectations. If you would like to join our faculty as a part-time instructor, please submit your application to the CE Department Chair Prof. Beth Wittig at awittig@ccny.cuny.edu . Faculty who have taught the course in question in the CE Department in the prior 6 years do not need to complete an application; faculty who have taught in the CE Department in the prior 6 years but have not taught the course in question need only complete section 3 of the application.

Submit to the department chair your resume; a one-page statement describing your teaching experience and your pedagogical philosophy; a one-page statement describing the practical experience you will bring into the classroom, where and when you have taught the course in the past, and student reviews of your teaching of the course; and the names and contact information of two prior employers (educational or otherwise).

PART-TIME STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Current Openings:

Tutors in CE courses The CE Department is looking for positive, organized, and capable CE students willing to tutor other students in foundational CE courses: CE 231 Statics, CE 332 Mechanics, CE 264 Data Analysis, CE 316 Systems and Decision Analysis. Interested students must have completed the course they wish to TA for at CCNY and earned a grade of B or higher. They must also have availability to tutor during the day-time and in person.
Assessment Assistant The CE Department is also looking for a positive, creative and detail-oriented person to provide assistance to the faculty on the CE Assessment Committee. Duties will include but are not limited to: Preparing surveys, entering into Excel data collected from surveys, preparing reports, collecting data from faculty, and keeping track of collected and outstanding data.
Graphic Design Assistant The CE Department is also looking for a student with some graphic design or website development coursework or experience to help prepare promotional items for the department, including course flyers, website elements, and other branding assignments.
Social Media Assistant The CE Department is also looking for a student to post information about the department and its stakeholders regularly to social media. Interested students must be familiar with the LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook platforms, have experience in tailoring information for these platforms.

How to apply: Students interested in these opportunities should express their interest directly to the department chair and will be asked to then apply through the CCNY Work-Study program.

Internship Opportunities

master — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 18:04:45 +0000

Internship Opportunities master Wed, 01/18/2017 - 13:04

First Lady Michelle Obama to deliver commencement speech at City College

jmwamba — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:21:01 +0000

First Lady Michelle Obama to deliver commencement speech at City College jmwamba Tue, 04/05/2016 - 10:21

First Lady Michelle Obama to deliver commencement address at CCNY, June 3.

http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2016/apr/04/first-lady-michelle-obama-deliver-commencement-spe/

Actor & Alumnus Victor Almanzar delivers CCNY’s 2025 Dortort Lecture, May 7

jmwamba — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:24:55 +0000

Actor & Alumnus Victor Almanzar delivers CCNY’s 2025 Dortort Lecture, May 7 jmwamba Wed, 04/30/2025 - 09:24

April 30, 2025

Victor Almanzar, the star of award-winning theatrical, television and film productions, returns to his alma mater to deliver the David Dortort Lecture in the Dramatic Arts at The City College of New York on Wednesday, May 7. Free and open to the public, his talk, 6 – 8 p.m. in Theatre B of Aaron Davis Hall, is entitled “An Actor's Journey.”

From the Class of 2012, Almanzar, who majored in theatre, will share how his CCNY degree led to success on the stage and screen, appearing on Broadway and in productions such as Steppenwolf, Homeland and Empire.

Aaron Davis Hall is located at 140 Convent Ave., New York, NY, 10031.

About Victor Almanzar
Victor Almanzar is a New York-based actor who came from the Dominican Republic at an early age. He appeared as Oswaldo in the Pulitzer Prize-winning production of Between Riverside and Crazy in both The Atlantic Theater and Second Stage Theater (NYC) and the Steppenwolf Theater (Chicago). He also appeared as Oscar at The Steppenwolf Theater production of Grand Concourse. He has completed a lead role in the independent feature film 11:55, a recurring role in the series Homeland as lieutenant Wenzel (Showtime), a recurring role in the series Power as Arturo (STARZ), a recurring role in the series Empire as Big Heavy (FOX), a supporting role in the feature film Brawl in Cell Block 99 (XYZ Films), a guest star role in Blue Bloods (CBS), a guest star role in Chicago PD (NBC), a guest star role in High Maintenance (HBO), and a role in LFE (a pilot for CBS). Before turning his attention to acting, Almanzar was in the United States Marine Corp, where he served in Kosovo and Iraq. Since then he has worked on the New York stage, Regional Theaters, and in London. He was nominated for The Lucille Lortel Award for his role in Between Riverside And Crazy. Almanzar is a proud lifetime member of The Actors Studio.

About the Dortort Lecture
The Dortort Lecture in the Dramatic Arts was endowed in 2004 by David Dortort (1916-2010), the famed Hollywood screen writer, executive producer, and 1936 CCNY alumnus. He sought to bring to his alma mater the most creative and talented writers, directors and other artists from stage, film and television. The annual lectures aim to provide thought-provoking insights on the media, the creative process and artistic and political issues. Dortort was the creator, writer and executive producer of “Bonanza,” one of the longest-running primetime dramatic series in television history, lasting 14 years. He also created, wrote and produced “The High Chaparral,” the first primetime series to feature Latino characters in starring roles. Dortort’s film credits include “The Lusty Men,” “Reprisal,” “Cry in the Night,” “The Big Land,” and “Clash by Night.” He received the Motion Picture and Television Foundation’s Golden Boot Award for Distinguished Work in Western Films and Television in 1999.

Jay Mwamba
p: 917.892.0374
e: jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu

City & State names CCNY chemical engineer Robert Messinger a trailblazer in clean energy

jmwamba — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:12:08 +0000

City & State names CCNY chemical engineer Robert Messinger a trailblazer in clean energy jmwamba Tue, 04/29/2025 - 12:12

April 29, 2025

CCNY chemical engineer Robert Messinger has made City and State's 2025 Trailblazers in Clean Energy list.

Robert J. Messinger, associate professor of chemical engineering at The City College of New York whose research includes developing a new generation of rechargeable batteries, has been named to City & State’s 2025 Trailblazers in Clean Energy list. The list shines a spotlight on New York’s most remarkable renewable energy leaders, including innovative industry figures, groundbreaking policymakers and notable environmentalists and conservationists.

“The transition to clean energy has entered a new phase in New York, as the state faces threats from new tariffs, economic headwinds and a pivot away from climate change policies in Washington, D.C. Yet renewable resources like solar and wind power as well as advances in battery storage and energy efficiency remain a key part of the energy equation, championed by public officials and industry executives alike,” said City & State. “And even as federal subsidies for renewable energy dry up and climate goals come under scrutiny, there remains plenty of industry momentum behind major initiatives like offshore wind installations and upgraded and expanded transmission lines across the state.”

City & State cited Messinger for his “out of this world” research, noting that he heads the partnership between CCNY and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and Northeastern University “to study and develop new battery technologies that can withstand the rigors of space.” An expert in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Messinger also leads one of the nation’s largest teams investigating rechargeable aluminum metal batteries, an emerging battery technology with significant promise but that requires scientific and technology research before scalable use. In addition, Messinger is also developing novel chemistries for Li-ion battery recycling.

About Dr. Robert Messinger
In addition to his faculty position as associate professor in the Grove School of Engineering, Messinger is also Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemical Engineering. He is the founding director of the NASA-CCNY Center for Advanced Batteries for Space and received a 2019 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career (NSF CAREER) Award. Since joining CCNY in August 2015, he has been PI or co-PI on awards or contracts totaling $23.8 million. At CCNY, his research team investigates electrochemical materials, chemical processes, and multi-phase fluids up from the molecular level, aimed at solving societal challenges in energy storage and recycling.

Jay Mwamba
p: 917.892.0374
e: jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu

Justice Sonia Sotomayor receives CCNY’s 2025 Colin L. Powell Distinguished Leadership Award

ssteinhardt@ccny.cuny.edu — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:46:37 +0000

Justice Sonia Sotomayor receives CCNY’s 2025 Colin L. Powell Distinguished Leadership Award ssteinhardt@cc… Mon, 04/28/2025 - 10:46

April 28, 2025

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor receives the 2025 Colin L. Powell Distinguished Leadership Award from Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership Board of Visitors Chair Linda Powell.

United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the 2025 recipient of the Colin L. Powell Distinguished Leadership Award, bestowed by the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York.

The award recognizes individuals who have reached the highest level in their fields, and who embody the leadership values that General Powell, a 1958 graduate of CCNY, demonstrated throughout his career: integrity, humility, humor, pragmatism, and common sense. These values were articulated most famously in Powell’s Thirteen Rules of Leadership, which culminate with “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” These words are memorialized on the award medallion.

In presenting the award to Sotomayor at a ceremony in New York City earlier this month, Linda Powell, chair of the Colin Powell School’s Board of Visitors and the daughter of General Powell, cited Sotomayor’s life story and her professional accomplishments, and lauded her commitment to justice.

“Justice Sotomayor’s journey — marked by perseverance, determination, and an unwavering commitment to justice — paved the way for countless others to follow,” said Powell. “Much like my father, she leads by example, demonstrating that true leadership is about character, service, and making a lasting impact on the world.”

A Bronx native, Justice Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University. She earned her law degree from Yale Law School, where she served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. She served as a New York County assistant district attorney and, after leaving government service, made partner at Pavia & Harcourt. She was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, and to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit by President William J. Clinton in 1997. President Barack Obama appointed her to the Supreme Court in 2009.

In a discussion with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa that touched on family and loss, friendship and solitude, Latin music and dance, and growing up in the Bronx, Sotomayor addressed the Colin Powell students and young alumni in the room.

“I have the faith that the General had that you will have the power to make a better world than we have,” she said. “That you will figure out from our mistakes what to do in a different way…you show us that there are still young people interested in changing the world.”

The Distinguished Leader Awards event was conceived by Marco Antonio Achón, co-chair of the Colin Powell School’s Board of Visitors and global head of Corporate Banking, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking. The event was made possible through the generous support of Santander.

In his remarks, Achón paid tribute to General Powell and his leadership of the school that bears his name.

“General Powell’s leadership wasn’t about commanding attention—it was about giving it. It wasn’t about prestige—it was about purpose. His gift was to instill in others a sense of dignity, of optimism, and of responsibility,” he said. “The Colin Powell School is one of his most enduring acts of leadership. It is where potential meets purpose. Where voices that might have gone unheard are being prepared to lead—with courage, integrity, and vision.”

“Justice Sotomayor embodies the essence of effective leadership, and she is a role model for generations of young people who aspire to be change-makers,” said Andrew Rich, the Richard J. Henley and Susan L. Davis Dean of the Colin Powell School. “It is a privilege for us to honor her with the 2025 Colin L. Powell Distinguished Leadership Award.”

CCNY President Vince Boudreau talked of how Justice Sotomayor “shares a great many characteristics with General Powell: Integrity. Passion. Perseverance. An inclination — maybe even a compulsion — to say what she truly believes despite the costs and the headwinds. And they also share a life trajectory — born in the Bronx and rising to national leadership.”

City University of New York Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez celebrated Justice Sotomayor’s deep roots in New York and noted that her late mother earned a nursing degree at CUNY’s Hostos Community College.

“Most people know her as a justice of the Supreme Court but for decades before her appointment in 2009 she was a New Yorker who devoted her life’s work to the principles of equal opportunity and democracy,” he said. “We know what her leadership means as we move forward and we are proud to honor her here tonight.”

About the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership
Established in April 2013, the Colin Powell School is home to the social science departments at CCNY as well as the core leadership development and public service programs of the College. With almost 4,000 students, and graduating the most CCNY students annually, the Colin Powell School mission is to transform the nation’s most diverse student body into tomorrow’s global leaders. Half of our students are immigrants; most come from lower income backgrounds. More than seventy percent are first-generation college students, and eighty percent are people of color. The Colin Powell School and City College remain among the most effective engines of economic and social mobility in the United States. The School is led by a faculty dedicated to the highest standards of research and to the university’s democratic and public obligations. Read more about the Colin Powell School.

Syd Steinhardt
212-650-7875
ssteinhardt@ccny.cuny.edu

Salzberg Chemistry Seminar: Dr. Alison Keimowitz, "Uranium and Heavy Metals in Fracking Flowback"

daddison — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:13:54 +0000

Salzberg Chemistry Seminar: Dr. Alison Keimowitz, "Uranium and Heavy Metals in Fracking Flowback" daddison Thu, 04/24/2025 - 12:13

Dates

Mon, Apr 28, 2025 - 12:00 PM — Mon, Apr 28, 2025 - 01:00 PM

Website

https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/chemistry

Admission Fee

Free

Event Address

City College of New York
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031

Phone Number

212-650-8402

Event Location

Marshak Building, Room 1027

Event Details

Salzberg Chemistry Seminar: "Uranium and Heavy Metals in Fracking Flowback"

Alison Keimowitz
Department of Chemistry, Director of Environmental Studies
Vassar College

Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing for unconventional oil and gas recovery exposes shale to large volumes of acidic fracking fluid. As a result, components of shale including heavy metals and naturally occurring radioactive material are released into the fluid, some of which returns to the surface. This contamination presents appreciable disposal challenges and environmental risks. This work explores the mechanism of elemental release to fluid as well as novel methods of retaining some elements in the solid phase. Elements explored in depth include arsenic, uranium, and rare earth elements. Experiments indicate that organic ligands such as bipyridine are capable of sequestering >95% of uranium in novel solid phases, and less toxic ligands such as histidine are also somewhat effective. Inorganic sorption of metals on hydroxyapatite and formation of uranium-phosphate minerals is also observed. The applicability of these methods to fracking conditions is explored.

Biography: Alison Keimowitz is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Vassar College, and also serves as the director of the Environmental Studies program. She received her MS from Yale University in Physical Chemistry and then her PhD from Columbia University (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory) in Geochemistry. her research examines heavy metal contamination in water as well as the processes that control the movement of metals between solid and aqueous media.

Click here to download