Who’s Who in Sustainability: In Focus at Smart City Expo Miami 2023

In recent years, sustainability has become a pressing concern for citizens and communities across the globe. As people become more aware of environmental and social issues, they are recognizing the importance of incorporating sustainable practices into their own lives and in their communities. Sustainability reshapes the way we live and the actions we take within our communities. As we build toward a cleaner future, we must adopt renewable energy sources and resource-efficient practices and collaborate with community members. Going forward, adopting these practices will help cities on a path toward a more environmentally and socially responsible future.

Our “Who’s Who In Sustainability” highlights the leading innovators who have made significant contributions to advancing sustainability at the community level. As we move toward a more uncertain climate future, we need people who are using design, technology, and innovation to help create environmentally sustainable solutions. Smart City Expo Miami brought together some of these top innovators to discuss plans for the future of urban life, and a group of them were recognized for their exemplary work.

Sara Pezeshk, Raimundo Rodulfo, Inna Braverman, Ebru Ozer, Bonnie Schneider, and Biayana Bogosian stood out for their outstanding contributions to sustainability efforts.

Bernardo Scheinkman, CEO and founder of Smart Cities Americas, kicked off the ceremony: “I’m thrilled to present some of the top changemakers in our community with awards to acknowledge their invaluable work. These individuals are shaping the future with their commitment to sustainability and innovative thinking.”

Let’s dive in to learn a little more about their outstanding accomplishments.

Sara Pezeshk currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment and the Institute of Environment at Florida International University. For her work on creating a data-driven hybrid shoreline infrastructure, she was awarded the certificate for her outstanding performance doing sustainable generative design. Her project addressed the impact of climate change on coastal areas by using bio-marine titles. These tiles are made up of both concrete and natural organisms, such as mangroves and seagrass, to create resilient shorelines. The bio-tiles were tested on the North Biscayne Bay shoreline, showing promise for further ecosystem protection.

Ebru Ozer also integrates nature-based elements with man-made materials and spaces. Ozer founded LandscapeDE, LLC, with Douglas Thompson, which collaborates with Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces to revolutionize playground design. While traditional playgrounds limit children’s connection with nature, their approach integrates expansive spaces and lush plantings in various playgrounds across Miami. Ozer aims to reconnect children with nature and foster sustainable and smart communities. She was awarded the certificate for her work designing sustainable nature-based solutions.? ?

“I am deeply honored to have received the Who's Who in Sustainability Award and have had the privilege of delivering a keynote at the Smart City Expo Miami 2023: Building Sustainable Communities,” Ebru shared. “This event provided an opportunity to address a diverse audience that extended well beyond the landscape architecture community, enabling me to emphasize the transformative power of landscape architecture in shaping smart, resilient, and sustainable cities to the people who are not in our field.”

Inna Braverman, the co-founder of Eco Wave Power, grew up in Ukraine, just 300 kilometers from Chernobyl, and suffered respiratory arrest and near death as a result of the nuclear catastrophe. Having experienced firsthand the dangers of nuclear power, Braverman aims to revolutionize renewable energy. Inna’s remarkable journey led her to consider the power of the ocean – a vast and untapped source of renewable energy. Under Inna’s leadership, EWP has made tremendous progress on its journey toward commercializing wave energy. She was awarded the certificate for her exceptional work innovating solutions for sustainable energy. Eco Wave’s patented technology utilizes floaters attached to marine structures and harnesses wave energy. This design has the potential to completely reshape the renewable energy landscape The company has completed construction of its grid connected project in Israel, where EWP’s technology was recognized as “Pioneering Technology.” EWP’s next project is the installation of its newest pilot in the Port of Los Angeles and a 1 MW installation in Porto, Portugal – it’s only a matter of time until Inna’s vision for a cleaner future reaches more and more cities around the world.

Biyana Bogosian, assistant professor of Architectural Technology at FIU School of Architecture, asks how immersive, interactive, and participatory urban environmental information representation tools and techniques foster environmental literacy and policy. Her current solution is “In Deep Water,” a groundbreaking Mixed Reality experience that addresses urban environmental data challenges. Using HoloLens2 technology, this interactive storytelling experience engages visitors with real-time and historical water quality data. For her work enhancing public awareness and use of MR for education and information dissemination, Bogosian was awarded the certificate for sustainable environmental action.

Chief Innovation Officer of Coral Gables, Raimundo Rodulfo, and the City of Coral Gables Innovation Team (CGIT), received an award for sustainable technology innovation after presenting their technology infrastructure projects and cutting edge ecosystems programs for the community.? Their project implementing and installing an AI-powered modular pole in Coral Gables – the first of its kind installed in North America – is the result of hard work, collaboration and a future driven mindset. The pole currently provides public WiFi, traffic safety cameras and sensors, traffic counters, and environmental sensors and has a hurricane wind-resistant structural design. We can’t wait to see what this team produces in the future.

Finally, Bonnie Schneider, founder of Weather and Wellness, was awarded for her outstanding performance as a sustainable meteorologist author. Schneider has appeared on The Weather Channel several times and previously worked for CNN and HLN. As a Meteorologist and Special Correspondent, she has provided commentary and analysis on the economic impact of science and weather news. Her non-fiction book, Extreme Weather, offers readers insights into natural disasters, including when they’re likely to strike and how to respond when they do. Her presentation at SCEM on integrating weather and wellness into urban planning was extremely valuable for the community.

These innovators are dedicated to sustainability and environmental consciousness, and their work doesn’t go unnoticed. They aim to offer innovative solutions and awareness-building initiatives with groundbreaking technologies. Smart City Expo Miami was thrilled to acknowledge them all for their contributions to a greener, more sustainable future.

Daniella Levine Cava Francis X. Suarez Vitali Vitali Klitschko Jonathan Reichental, Ph.D. Paul Doherty, IFMA Fellow, DFC Senior Fellow Raimundo Rodulfo, P.E., MSEM, PMP, CSSBB Sandra Baer David Graham Leticia Latino-van Splunteren Aaron J. DeMayo Alan Scott, FAIA, LEED Fellow Anatolii Vovniuk, MBA Biayna Bogosian Bonnie Schneider Carl Welty Caroline Lewis Ebru ?zer, ASLA Elisa Silva Inna Braverman Jake Moskowitz Janica Wiklander Kurt Kaminer Marcie Roth Ciawanda McDonald Marilys R. Nepomechie, FAIA, DPACSA, NCARB Martina Frattura Matt Haggman Laura Gaviria Halaby Matt Anderson Naman Sharma Pamela Hamblin Philip Wang Sara Pezeshk Dr. Sara Rushinek Sarbeswar Praharaj Thomas Spiegelhalter Antonio Delgado Fornaguera Miguel Murphy Marcus Ortega Nancy Dahlberg Riley Kaminer Melissa Medina Craig Ari Rothleitner Edna Pasher Prof. Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes Jana Skokan Jose Antonio Ondiviela Ph.D. Uri Ben-Ari Leonardo Scheinkman Eduardo Scheinkman Ric Scheinkman Mel Meléndez Ashley Portero Alex Harris Brian Bandell Jesse Scheckner Alex Mena Rob Wile Mario Ariza Vickie Chachere Andres Viglucci Eileen Cukier Grace DeWitt Joey Flechas cristina ojeda Christina Crespi Rodrick Miller Madeline Pumariega