News update:
I want to share with you what I'm building and news from my team.
If I had to describe my work in one phrase, it would be: I use Science and Tech as catalysts for social change. Actually though, for anyone that has worked in the trenches you know what it takes to get the job done: laser focus but with the agility of a Swiss army knife.
Necessity is the mother of invention
I often get asked how I do so much, and the answer is simple: I don't.
I build teams and community!
My nomadic life taught me to build bridges and connect people/idieas out of necessity. My professional work didn't veer too far as I began working with communities in frontier and emerging markets where the needs were clear. I built with other dynamic and talented individuals because that helps guarantee the sustainability of projects. I became an engineer of intentional communities.
When it comes to climate change and dealing with disasters, there are no cookie-cutter solutions. The challenges are too complex to anticipate (pandemic, anyone?). The work I do through my personal and institutional brand is unique to each situation, but building agency is a phrase I often employ. I strive to empower individuals, communities, institutions, cities, and companies to co-design change and desired outcomes. The necessity to respond to global risks is forcing us to (re)invent the social structures and agreements we took for granted.
Those of you who know me personally know my style. The link to my website for more on work under my personal brand.
My team at Instituto Limite
Today, I lead a consulting group focused on building strategies responding to climate change. Instead of telling you about my team, I'll let their work do the talking:
Luiz Vieira
Civil Engineer
Advisory
Luiz Vieira gave seven interviews in two weeks (practically one every other day) on the possibility of induced earthquakes in the city of Manaus, Brazil, due to planned extraction of natural gas. Local news interviewed him live, and the national newspaper O Globo broke the news the night the journal article was published. Luiz is part of our founding team and now leads in an advisory capacity.
Gonzalo Pita
Civil Engineer
Consultant
Gonzalo Pita is also coauthor of the earthquake damage assessment paper along with Luiz and Andrea H. A. Silva (the female first author). Gonazalo was a World Bank consultant and today is a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University.
Manuela Powidayko Alberici Souza
Architecture and Urbanism
Consultant
Manuela authored Turning the Heat: Resiliency in New York City's Heat-Vulnerable Neighborhoods along with research fellows of the Urban Design Forum. She is a graduate of Columbia University's program in Architecture and Urban Design.
Marina Corona Cosmo
Architecture and Urbanism
Intern
Marina Corona Cosmo, our intern, is an architect and urban planner, and began this year a Masters in Architecture, Technology and City focusing on Resilient Cities at UNICAMP.
I'm incredibly fortunate to work with such a talented group of people. Together, we are architects and engineers of intentional endeavors. You can learn more about them on our website.
All hands on deck
All of this is a tiny dent, and we realize we need all hands on deck to turn the ship around when it comes to climate change. That's where you come in. We are building a community for and with those in public and private sectors who want to improve decision- and policy-making pertaining to climate risks. But more on that… next time.
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PS: Tell me what communities of impact and intention you belong to… or have found inspiring? I want to know.
PSS: Do you have a friend/colleague we should be talking to? Let us know.