Adapting to Climate Change: 17th Annual STAR-TIDES Capabilities Demonstration

The Annual STAR-TIDES Capabilities Demonstration showcases products and activities of the STAR-TIDES (Sharing To Accelerate Research – Transformative Innovation for Development and Emergency Support) global knowledge-sharing network, The network includes several thousand members engaged in building sustainable resilience, promoting human security, and creating life-changing social and economic activities. STAR-TIDES is coordinated through George Mason University’s Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC).  

This year's theme will be Adapting to Climate Change, emphasizing collaborative cross-sector approaches (such as energy + communications) to help communities adapt to the “new normal” of climate change in their region.  As Thomas Freidman has pointed out, “it’s not the strongest, fastest, or smartest that survives, but rather the most adaptable.”
STAR-TIDES will be held this year at Mason's Arlington campus (Mason Square) 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201.

Registration is required and is free for attendees. https://secure.touchnet.com/C20788_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1626&SINGLESTORE=true 
Location: Mason's Arlington campus (Mason Square) 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201.

When: Monday, April 15 09:00AM - Tuesday, April 16 4:PM EDT

Agenda:

 Monday, April 15th, 2024  

7:00 am - 9:00 am Setup displays

9:00 am – 10:00 am: Introductions and Morning Keynote:  "From Threat Multiplier to Opportunity Multiplier," Climate Security, Innovation and Leadership for the 21st Century."  Sherri W. Goodman, national security executive, public policy leader, board director, and lawyer.  The author of the forthcoming book "Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, & the Fight for Global Security, Ms. Goodman served as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Environmental Security). 

10:00 am Displays open

10:00 am – 11:30 am: Panel: Promising  Adaptations to Climate Change and Disruptions.  Moderator: Sudha Balajapalli, PhD, (College of Science, George Mason University), Natalie Fiertz (Henry L. Stimson Center, Environmental Security Program), Francisco Aquino, (Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust), Iliad Terra (alfa8) 

1130 am – 12:00 pm: Networking---visit exhibits 

1200 pm – 1:00 pm: Luncheon Keynote:  "Closing the Value-Action Gap: How to Invcentivze the Private Sector to Invest, at Scale, in Climate Resilience." Sharron Mcpherson, senior policy advisor on the intersection of climate, infrastructure and national security, senior adjunct in project finance, co-founder and CEO of Resilience Technologies:

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Panel: Empowering Communities through Collaboration (e.g. Power-Comms Cooperatives). Moderator: Linton Wells II, PhD, (founder, STAR-TIDES),  Keone Nakoa (Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of the Interior), Javier Baella (REM COOP, Puerto RIco), Scott Sklar (The Stella Group), Tiffany Perry (FirstNet)

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Networking--Visit exhibits  

3:30 pm – 4:45 pm: Collaborative Adaptation to Climate Change in Virginia—Jim Kinter (Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere (COLA) Studies), Leah Nichols (Institute for a Sustainable Earth), Demetra McBride (Arlington), Bob Lazaro (Northern Virginia Regional Commission—NVRC)  

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Call to action panel.  "How Government, Business, and Non-Profit  Organizations Can Provide Opportunities for People to Make A Difference in Adapting to Climate Change." Claudia Nierenberg (NOAA Climate Program Office), Mr. Drew Bond (PowerField Energy, C3 Solutions), Dr. Sarah McCue (Axion, UN, World Bank)

6:15 pm – 8:00 pm: Keynote Reception  
  

Tuesday, April 16th, 2024  

Multifaceted engagement with exhibitors which will be organized to provide for substantive two-way exchanges  

9:00 am: Displays Open  

9:00 am – 1:00 pm:  Windows available for visits to the  Mason Innovation Lab, Smart Grid Lab, the new Fuse building, and Scott Sklar's Net Zero facility.  Breakout rooms available for targeted visits with exhibitors, arranged in advance, by businesses, governments, communities, student groups, etc.  

1:00 pm - 2:00 "shark -tank" - like pitches to  accredited  investors for feedback. 

2:00-3:00 "Lighting Talks" (5 minute summaries of 

3:00 pm Exchange of MOU between GMU C5I Center and EMP Shield Tech Lab, Inc,, of Tokyo

4:00 pm Exhibits close.  Prepare for convoy to Pentagon on Wednesday, April 17th  for those companies and organization who exhibited at Mason.

No host dinner (location TBD) 

Any questions, please contact the STAR-TIDES Team at star.tides.net@gmail.com