November 12, 2024

At the twelfth World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, School of City and Regional Planning faculty led a panel of experts showing how higher education can lead in advancing technologies and improving the human condition.

The Global Partnerships for Climate Resiliency Addressing Urban Water and Sanitation session, moderated by Ellen Bassett, dean and John Portman Chair of the College of Design, and Bruce Stiftel, professor emeritus of the School, focused on the built environment and climate action-oriented solutions that can be deployed today for a better tomorrow.

The panel specifically discussed Georgia Tech's success with the Living Building Challenge to demonstrate how higher education can lead in advancing technologies and improving the human condition. Shannon Yee, professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, joined the panel to present the Generation 2 Reinvented Toilet (G2RT).

"The G2RT was the highlight of Georgia Institute of Technology's booth at the World Urban Forum 12 Egypt," Stiftel said. "So many WUF attendees see potential for a toilet that requires no municipal infrastructure connections."

As one of WUF12's SDG in Action sessions, a key objective of this session is to accelerate urban improvements towards the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Georgia Tech has an ongoing sustainability initiative  to promote, implement, and advance the SDGs.