The CUNY CREST Bulletin

The City University of New York Remote Sensing Earth Systems Institute 

(CUNY CREST) quarterly bulletin is an initiative to keep you up-to-date on the Institute’s success stories, events, opportunities, highlights, and more. Happy reading!

Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi

CREST hosted Dr. Alex de Sherbinin, Director, Applications of Spatial Data for Understanding Climate Vulnerability and Resilience (CIESIN), Dr. Dana R. Thomson, Associate Director of Science Applications, CIESIN, and Juan Fernando Martinez, Senior Research Staff Assistant, CIESIN under its Deliver, Dialogue, Discuss, and Discourse (D4) Series on May 13, 2025 at the City College of the City University of New York. The speakers focussed on Applications of Spatial Data for Understanding Climate Vulnerability and Resilience. The session concluded with a discussion on potential collaborations between CUNY CREST and CIESIN/CCS, including student internships, joint research, and data innovation partnerships to advance climate-resilient development in cities.

CREST hosted a joint seminar with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST II) on two timely and interconnected topics in atmospheric science; Air Quality Modeling and Forecasting and The Role Clouds Play in Affecting Atmospheric Composition. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Director, Research Applications Laboratory at NSF NCAR & Dr. Mary Barth, Senior Scientist at NSF NCAR served as the speakers. CREST team and other CUNY members are continuing the conversation on future collaborations both in research and training programs in the US and internationally.

Dr. Shakila Merchant, CUNY CREST The High School Initiative in Remote Sensing of the Earth Systems Science & Engineering (HIRES) Director and Deputy Director, CUNY CREST Institute participated in the Science Research Mentoring Programs Conference (SRMPCon) at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY from April 30-May 2, 2025. This first ever conference of the type brought together STEM leaders of high school science research mentoring programs from across the country with the aim to enable effective mentorship for youth in Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research. Leaders from fifty (50) programs from sixteen (16) states participated in the conference. 

CREST hosted the first United Nations University (UNU) Hub — Remote-Sensing and Sustainable Innovations for Resilient Urban Systems (R-SIRUS) informational session for students at the City College of New York on May 22, 2025. The session aimed to introduce prospective CCNY students to the hub’s mission and showcase the diverse opportunities it offers, including research collaborations, internships, and academic engagement. It also provided guidance on how students can effectively leverage these opportunities to enhance their academic and professional growth.

CREST Faculty affiliate and Professor of Civil Engineering at CCNY, Dr. Naresh Devineni and the team welcomed the  first cohort of research scholars, Paniz Peiravani and Chaw Nandar, on the Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) project. Paniz is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Earth System Science & Environmental Engineering at the City College of New York while Chaw is an incoming junior majoring in Civil Engineering at CCNY. CREST Faculty Affiliate, Dr. Yingli Tiang serves as Paniz’s primary mentor in addition to Dr. Devineni. On the RENEW project, Paniz is working on the flood risk analysis component & Chaw is conducting data-driven analysis on the relationship between extreme rainfall events and urban flood occurrences in Greater New York.

CREST Research Scientist, Dr. Vartika Chandra Saman and CREST Faculty Affiliate at NY City College of Technology, Prof. Smita Ekka Dewan attended the 23rd Session of the United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII 23). The theme of the event was ‘Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Self-determination in the Context of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Emphasizing the Voices of Indigenous Youth.

CREST’s Business Development and Entrepreneurship Pillar Director and City University of New York Site Lead of the recently awarded planning grant - Center for Climate Risk Applications Industry University Cooperative Research Center’s (IUCRC), Harry Cikanek led the grant’s first mandatory planning meeting along with other leaders; Luis Ortiz from George Mason University (GMU) and Adam Schlosser from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), on March 3rd, 2025 at the City College of New York. The goal of the meeting was to convene prospective industry members with the Center leadership, faculty, and students to present National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) overviews of the program, introduce Center planning and value proposition, showcase candidate research projects and conduct mock industry voting with an eye toward recruiting industry members to support the Center with a letter of commitment, and to refine planning in preparation for developing and submitting a Phase I Center proposal to NSF. 

JK Goongoon received The CUNY CREST Medal in recognition of her outstanding leadership, research excellence, and commitment to community engagement on May 30, 2025, occasion of her graduation. Goongoon graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Earth Systems Science and Environmental Engineering (ESE) & Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the City College of The City University of New York. She was also recognized as the Class of 2025 Valedictorian of CCNY Grove School of Engineering (GSOE) and Engineering Alumni Medalist for Grove's Academic Program of ESE. Throughout her academic journey, Goongoon has actively engaged with the CCNY Student Chapter of the New York Water Environment Association. She is also the recipient of fellowships including the 2022-2023 Climate Policy Fellowship with the Colin Powell School and the 2024-2025 CUNY CIRE Climate Scholars Fellowship, and scholarships/awards including 2024 WEF InFLOW Scholar, 2025 Waterfront Scholar, 2025 Asian Alumni Group Scholarship, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and Dean’s List Every Semester of College. 

CUNY CREST HIRES Director and Deputy Director of the CUNY CREST Institute, Dr. Shakila Merchant, CREST Research Scientist, Dr. Vartika Chandra Saman and CREST Faculty Affiliate, Prof. Smita Ekka Dewan and CREST Faculty Affiliate Dr. Naresh Devineni visited the Tribal Nations of Mi'kmaq, Presque Isle, as part of the TEK and water ecosystem project in Maine on April 16-18, 2025. One of the main purposes of the meeting was to connect with the Mi'kmaq community members and discuss the project goals and objectives. A letter of collaboration in support of this partnership was signed  by the past Tribal Chief Mr. Charlie. 

As part of the President’s 2025 Faculty and Staff Service & Excellence Awards ceremony held on May 6, 2025 at the City College of the City University of New York, CREST Executive Director and NOAA Chair and Professor at the Grove School of Engineering, Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi received the Longevity Award. The award was presented to Dr. Khanbilvardi by the Dean of the Grove School of Engineering, Dean Alexander Couzis. The award honors Dr. Khanbilvardi for 40  years of exceptional service to CUNY. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Khanbilvardi has shown deep commitment to student mentorship and academic leadership. Dr. Khanbilvardi has also served as principal investigator or co-investigator on over $100 million in research grants, supported by prestigious agencies.

Picture Credit: ARIS Summit 2025

CUNY CREST HIRES Director and Deputy Director of the CUNY CREST Institute, Dr. Shakila Merchant represented the CREST at the Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) Summit 2025 held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from April 22 to 25, 2025. The summit brought together its community members to explore various Broader Impacts (BI) themes and topics. During the Summit, Dr. Merchant participated in several engaging activities including inspiring keynote speeches, discussion sessions on broader impact, award ceremony, presentations, and pop quiz. Some of the highlights from the summit included a powerful performance by La Bomba and emphasis on public impact, interdisciplinary partnerships, and joy in community-building.  

Jahnelle Howe

Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the Graduate Center of New York |

Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC)

Pursuing a graduate degree helped Jahnelle mature as a person, learn resiliency, and explore her capabilities. She believes that mentorship is a powerful tool and when done by someone with genuine passion and intention, it can profoundly shape a person's career and life journey. She is deeply grateful to her mentor, Dr. Shakila Merchant, whose commitment to mentorship has been instrumental in her academic and personal growth.

Nadia Parvez Kadiwala

Master of Science in Earth Systems and Environmental Engineering, CCNY  

During her time at CCNY, Nadia became deeply interested in the challenges surrounding water systems, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Her coursework and hands-on research in hydrology and ecosystem analysis gave her valuable insights into the importance of data driven modeling in environmental decision making. She is grateful to her mentor, Dr. Shakila Merchant.

CREST congratulates its doctoral student, Ms. Fatemeh Yavari (Civil Engineering) for being selected to participate in the highly competitive The Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute. The institute is a partnership between the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc (CUAHSI) and the University of Alabama that aims to engage the academic community in research to advance water prediction and flood forecasting. Students work in small teams and are mentored by university faculty and other professionals. Fatemeh looks forward to the experience in summer 2025! 

On his recent trip to India, CREST Research Scientist and Director of the CREST Education and Training Pillar, Dr. Tarendra Lakhankar engaged with over thousand (1000) students across nine prestigious universities and colleges, including Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University (SNDT), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (BATU), COEP Technological University Pune, The Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Pillai HOC College of Engineering & Technology, and others. He also connected with students at Warmadewa University in Indonesia. This outreach allowed Dr. Lakhankar to closely interact with both students and faculty, sharing insights into current and future educational opportunities in the USA, particularly at CUNY, and offering guidance to help students succeed in their academic and professional careers.

2025 HSTAT's Career, Internship, and Transition Services Spring Fair

Dr. Shakila Merchant, Director, CUNY CREST HIRES and Deputy Director, CUNY CREST, Mr. Cesar Ortiz, CREST Office Manager, Dr. Vartika Chandra Saman, CREST Research Scientist, and Ms. Srishti Tyagi, CREST Communication Manager represented the institute at the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology  Career, Internship, and Transition Services Spring Fair on March 18, 2025. The team engaged with the students through its booth, informing them about the CUNY CREST HIRES, United Nations University Hub at CCNY- R-SIRUS, and the ESE program at CCNY. Several students, guidance counselors, parents, and faculty came to the booth and asked questions on ways to engage with the institute.

2025 Pre-College Engineering Day by Latin American Engineering Student Association Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineerings

CREST participated in the 2025 Pre-College Engineering Day by Latin American Engineering Student Association Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineerings on March 28, 2025. Mr. César Ortiz, CREST Office Manager and Dr. Liubov Kreminska, Associate Director for Program Administration and Advising of the ESE Degree Program at CCNY represented the institute at the event. CREST facilitated the lab tours for the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Ocean and Coastal Optical Remote Sensing (ORS) Lab at CCNY at the Grove School of Engineering and also conducted outreach for its programs.

Brooklyn Transition and College Access Center Fair

Dr. Shakila Merchant, Director, CUNY CREST HIRES and Deputy Director, CUNY CREST and Mr. Cesar Ortiz, CREST Office Manager represented the institute at the Brooklyn Transition and College Access Center (TCAC) Fair on April 11, 2025. CUNY CREST team interacted with the participants and helped students learn about the CUNY CREST HIRES program and how it may be instrumental to helping them be prepared for college. In addition, they informed students of the other opportunities available within the CREST program umbrella such as the Summer Bridge, CESSRST II, and the ESE degree program at CCNY. Students were curious and asked questions. They also received flyers and goodies! 

Career Day at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School

Dr. Liubov Kreminska, Associate Director for Program Administration and Advising of the ESE Degree Program at CCNY represented the CREST Institute and the ESE degree program at the Career Day at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) on May 1, 2025. She helped attendees learn about various opportunities the institute and the CCNY offers for academic and professional development. Students were curious to learn! 

UNU-Hub at CCNY (R-SIRUS)

CUNY CREST HIRES

CUNY CREST

About the CUNY CREST Institute

The CUNY CREST institute was officially approved in June 2010 and inaugurated on November 29, 2010. It is a collation of interdisciplinary researchers across CUNY system who are passionate about addressing grand societal challenges through advanced earth system sensing technologies, raising awareness, engaging secondary & postsecondary students & community outreach. The institute is designed to provide a collaborative environment for faculty and scientists from various CUNY campuses to engage in the field of Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing. This environment helps create opportunities to attract external funding and bring in new resources for the faculty, students, and CUNY as a whole. For additional information, visit crest.cuny.edu.