Sustainability in the Food-Energy-Water-Waste Nexus
CME Department Seminar
February 16, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM America/Chicago
Presenter: Marcia R. Silva, PhD, University of Illinois System
Location: ERF 1047
Abstract: Dr. Silva’s research goal is to address the interrelated problems in a food-energy-water-waste nexus and helping to build smart resilient communities and smart and connected communities through sustainable technological innovations. Her approach is to tackle environmental issues through multidisciplinary lenses, and she has done significant contributions to the water, agriculture, and sensors fields. She has published in multiple journal papers and her research has led to more than 20 invention disclosures and patents and two licensing agreements. She is a strong contributor to technology translation and commercialization through outstanding industrial partnership.
In this talk, Silva will go over some of her present and past research efforts as well as highlighting some key technologies under development.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Marcia R. Silva has a strong entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for innovation. Silva has more than 30 years of industrial, academic, and technology accelerator experience combined, has authored several journal papers and book chapters, and has presented her work at national and international conferences. Silva holds an assoc. director R&D position with Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) at University of Illinois System. In this position, she oversees the DPI Science Teams program and supports R&D on research proposals strategy. She previously worked as a scientist and director with the Water Technology Accelerator (WaTA) and managed the Nanofabrication and Microscopy Facility (NMF) at the Innovation Campus at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Her science has generated 20 invention disclosures and patents to date, and two licensing agreements. Since 2013, Silva took on the huge task of creating the water research facility associated with the rise of the Global Water Center in Milwaukee. She was instrumental in the success of the research arm for the Global Water Center and impacted the research reputations of UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science and School of Freshwater Sciences. She received the UWM Graduate of the Last Decade Award for this achievement in 2017. Dr. Silva was actively engaged in Milwaukee Water Hub and several international water hubs. She has also received the Water Warrior Award in 2018 for her outstanding leadership, innovation, and dedication to Milwaukee’s water industry. Through her science, she has mentored more than 120 researchers to date, including post docs, graduate, and undergraduate students, from engineering, freshwater sciences, chemistry, biology, conservation & environmental science and business. Silva’s overarching goal is to address the interrelated problems in a food-energy-water-waste nexus, supporting environmental sustainability, and helping to build smart resilient communities and smart and connected communities.
Date posted
Feb 12, 2024
Date updated
Feb 12, 2024