College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences

CAUSES Highlights Community-Focused Research at UDC Research Week

The College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) at UDC will showcase research dedicated to creating healthier, more resilient and more equitable communities as part of the university’s annual Research Week, March 31 to April 4. CAUSES Research Day on Tuesday, April 1, will include more than 20 student presentations exploring urban agriculture, climate resilience, nutritional genomics, environmental justice, sustainable architecture, food-system sustainability and more.

A Day of Insight and Innovation

In addition to student research, the day will feature a keynote seminar from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with UDC Professor of Urban Leadership & Entrepreneurship Sabine O’Hara presenting from her book Food Justice in American Cities: Stories of Health and Resilience, joined by Yale University Architecture Professor in Practice Jean Pierre Crousse and University of Nevada-Las Vegas Professor of Architecture and Urbanism Steffen Lehman.

CAUSES Research Week Schedule

Morning Sessions

10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Van Ness Campus
Building 71, 5th Floor, Multipurpose Room

Time	Presenters	Title	Center
10 a.m.	Dean Dwayne Jones and Associate Dean Anna Franz	Opening remarks followed by Poster session	Building 71 CAUSES
Poster session 10-11 a.m.	Drs. Elizabeth Gearin and Amanda Huron	Assessing Ecological Stewardship in the Nation's Capital: Applying STEW-MAP in Washington DC	Urban Sustainability
	Dr. Y Li	Obesity Study Using Nutritional Genomics	Nutrition
	Selvia Riad	Parental Influence in Preventing Childhood Obesity: Nurturing Healthy Habits for a Lifetime	Nutrition
	Emily Goldberg	Investigating PFAS Contamination in the Environment and Remediation Techniques: A Systematic Review	Water Resources Management
	Bassan Nondohou	Urban Stream Restoration in Melvin Hazen Valley: Insights into Challenges and Solutions	Water Resources Management
	Roxane Chidlaw	Lead Contamination in Drinking Water and the need for Comprehensive Mitigation Strategies	Water Resources Management
	Caitlin G. Arlotta	Impact of Genotype and Groundcover on Pest Susceptibility, Disease Susceptibility, Nutrient Content and Consumer Acceptance in Hibiscus Sabdariffa L.	Center for Urban Resilience, Innovation and Infrastructure (CURII)
	Sharlene Reed	Can NEPA Phase 2 Assist the Environmental Justice Movement in 2025?	Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship
11:30-1:30 p.m.	Food Justice Key Note and Luncheon Join Here
	Dr. Sabine O'Hara	Food Justice in American Cities
	Dr. Jean Pierre Crousse	Long-Standing Urban Food Systems of Lima
	Dr. Steffen Lehmann	Food and Infrastructure Challenges and Opportunities in Arid Cities

Afternoon Sessions

2 - 7 p.m.
Van Ness Campus
Building 32, Suite 200

Time	Presenters	Title	Center
2 p.m.	Dr. Brandon Schweitzer	Oral Presentations
2:15 p.m.	Mariah McPherson	Creatine Supplementation Support Muscle Recover and Injury Prevention in Women Consuming Plant-Based Diets	Nutrition
2:30 p.m.	Dr. Brandon Schweitzer	Seasonal Changes in Skin Carotenoid Scores	Nutrition
2:45 p.m.	Christopher Iweriebor	Alternative Urban Food Provisioning Networks: The Role of Food Self-Provisioning (FSP) in Addressing Urban Food Insecurity	Urban Sustainability
3 p.m.	Frederick Rischmiller	Oak Health in the District of Columbia	CURII
3:30 p.m.	16th Street Greens	From Junk Foods 2 Salads	CURII
3:45 p.m.	Adegoke George	Windowsill Lettuce: Evaluation of Simple, Indoor-Agriculture Vegetable Growing Methods	CURII
4 p.m.	Andy Blunk	Case Study: Urban Agriculture Collaboration Opportunities, The Gambia	CURII
4:15 p.m.	Andy Blunk	Growing Vegetables Utilizing Repurposed Urban Waste Materials	CURII
4:30 p.m.	Sudhir Yadav	Sustainable Agriculture: Life Cycle Assessment and GHG Emissions Reduction in Hydroponic vs. Conventional Farming	School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
4:45 p.m.	Break
5 p.m.	Dr. Kirsten Kinzer	Architecture Introductions	Department of Architecture and Urban Sustainability
5:15 p.m.	Professor Eric Harris	Value-Inclusive Design For Learning Outcomes: Promoting Social Equity and Inclusion in Architectural Education and Practice
5:30 p.m.	Md Redwan Islam	Sustainable and Flood-Adaptive Housing in Bangladesh
5:45 p.m.	Trever Bellew	Rebuilding the Third Temple: Bridging Prophecy, Architecture and Modern Innovation
6 p.m.	Cesar Borges dos Santos	Redefining Spaces for Animal Welfare: The Design of a Comprehensive Animal Shelter and Treatment Center
6:15 p.m.	Namdi Oakes	Inclusive Communal Design: The Community Garden
6:30 p.m.	A. Shalom Sabater	Why Not Shop? A Food Security Center in Seat Pleasant
6:45 p.m.	Gabreleul (Gabe) Yacob	Designing Sustainable Indoor Farming Systems: Harnessing Vertical Hydroponics for Year-Round Food Production in Washington DC
7 p.m.	Josh Cato	Participatory Design and Equitable Public Space: An exploration of relationships
7:15 p.m.	Cindy Umanzor	Build and Ship: Addressing the Shortage of Skilled Workers in the Construction Industry