Forum at CSI will investigate Island Geology, Sustainable Land Use, Human and Financial Impact 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjTSDuOSCWc[/youtube]Dr. William J. Fritz, Interim President and renowned geologist with The City University of New York’s College of Staten Island, will lead a team of experts as the College of Staten Island presents the Superstorm Sandy Forum: A Serious Conversation about the Future of Staten Island, on Friday, March 8, 2013.

Read “The Toll” from The New Yorker magazine, featuring Dr. William J. Fritz  and highlighting the College of Staten Island and Hurricane Sandy.

The informative day-long program will include panel discussions moderated by leading experts in their fields.

Morning presentations include “Geology and History of Storm Surges on Staten Island” will be presented by Dr. Alan I. Benimoff, Lecturer, Doctoral Schedule, Department of Engineering Science and Physics College of Staten Island; “Sustainable Land Use in Flood Prone Areas of Staten Island” by Dr. Ronald Shiffman, F.A.I.C.P., Hon. A.I.A., Professor, Pratt Programs for Sustainable Development, Pratt Institute and Director Emeritus, Pratt Center for Community Development; “The Human Impact of Natural Disasters: A Social Science View” by Dr. Nan Sussman, Interim Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor of Psychology, College of Staten Island.

Afternoon sessions will include “Financial Impact and the Role of Government in Sandy Recovery on Staten Island” by Dr. Jonathan R. Peters, Professor of Finance, College of Staten Island, Member of Earth and Environmental Science and Economics Doctoral Faculty, CUNY Graduate Center, and Dr. Richard Flanagan, Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Staten Island; and “Five Points to Protect Staten Island from Future Storm Surges” by Dr. William J. Fritz, Interim President, College of Staten Island, Professor of Geology and Member of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Faculty, CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. Fritz’s closing session will provide expanded insights into his plan as previously presented at The Museum of the City of New York and recently featured in the February 11 edition of the New Yorker magazine.

Panelists are being determined and will include representatives from the federal, state, city, and local levels, as well as leading scientists, business people, and educators from around the world. All sessions include a question and answer period.

The Superstorm Sandy Forum will take place Friday, March 8, 2013 at the College of Staten Island Center for the Arts at 2800 Victory Boulevard in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island, 10314.

The day begins with breakfast and registration at 8:00 a.m., includes lunch, and concludes with a reception at 4:00 p.m. The Forum has a $25 registration fee and is open to policy makers, business leaders, and the public.

For more information and to register online, visit www.csi.cuny.edu/sandyforum.