Have you ever asked your garbage truck where it's going?

Sybil Derrible is a professor of civil engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago, focusing on urban engineering- studying large systems of power and movement inspired by the tiny island he calls his hometown. Living in a tight community (and with parents that owned a hardware store), Sybil grew up knowing where his water and energy came from- and now, he wants you to learn about yours too.

In this episode, Sybil joins us to discuss his new book, aptly titled The Infrastructure Book. He chose to write this book because he felt that his work needed to be communicated to the public. He feels that people need to understand how their infrastructure works: not just roads and bridges, but the energy systems, water distribution, telecommunications, waste disposal and more that happen behind the scenes.

Sybil's Haiku:
It breathes not, but lives
It makes it all possible
Infrastructure rocks!

Links:
Check out The Infrastructure Book here: https://csun.uic.edu/the-infrastructure-book/
Learn more about Sybil's work: https://sybilderrible.com/

This month, we’re proud to introduce an in-house effort at the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems: the Georgia Statewide Resilience Assessment.

Commissioned by The Pew Charitable Trusts and conducted by the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems at UGA, this report brings together insight from across the sectors, stakeholders and systems of Georgia. The outcome: a review of our hazards and challenges, as well as some opportunities, exemplary projects, and recommendations for creating a more resilient Georgia.

The research process for this report involved holding in-person and virtual discussions across the state to gain a wide array of perspectives. In this episode, we bring you a few of the people who were present at some of those meetings to discuss the project and state resilience planning as a whole.

Featuring:
Kristiane Huber, Officer, US Conservation, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Lynn Abdouni, Associate Research Scientist, Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems
Summer Modelfino, Deputy Chief Resilience Officer, Maryland Office of Resilience
Alan Robertson, AWR Strategic Consulting, Tybee Island, Georgia

And yes, Alan brought a haiku!
Recover, adapt
Always planning for a more
Resilient future

Links:
Read the report here: https://iris.uga.edu/resilience-planning-for-the-state-of-georgia/
Watch the webinar on state resilience planning here: https://iris.uga.edu/resilience-planning-for-the-state-of-georgia/
Learn more about the Maryland Office of Resilience: https://resilientmaryland.com/
Learn more about resilience efforts in Tybee Island: https://resilienttybee.com/

Cynthia Kierner, historian, self-declared "non-21st century person," and Mets fan, is deeply interested in the role of disturbances across American history- hurricanes, earthquakes, and disease, oh my. In her book, Inventing Disaster: The Culture of Calamity from the Jamestown Colony to the Johnstown Flood, she reviews the history of natural disasters and how we respond to them across time and space in the United States.

Hosts Alysha and Todd join their guest in asking colossal questions on cataclysms: How do governments simultaneously prepare for risks at local, regional and national levels? What role do community outsiders play in disaster prevention and recovery? Can the government make you wear a seatbelt?

From Philadelphia's yellow fever epidemic of 1793 to the worldwide shutdown of COVID-19, disturbances shape communities in a major way. In this episode, we review the life cycle of natural disasters and how they impact communities today... and tomorrow.

Cynthia's Haiku (An Ode to Jersey City):
Superstorm Sandy
Rollercoaster in the sea
Inspiring disaster


Links:
Inventing Disaster: The Culture of Calamity from the Jamestown Colony to the Johnstown Flood: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469652528/inventing-disaster/

Rethinking American Disasters (NEW): https://lsupress.org/9780807179932/rethinking-american-disasters/

Bio: https://historyarthistory.gmu.edu/people/ckierner