معرفی
Benedetta Piantella is an Industry Associate Professor at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, affiliated with the Integrated Design & Media Program (IDM). She holds a dual role as an educator and humanitarian technologist, with over two decades of experience in international development, STEM education, and sustainable technology design. Her work focuses on participatory design methodologies to address global challenges in resource equity, climate resilience, and community-driven innovation.
Education & Experience:
- Former Technologist in Residence at Cornell Tech (Connected Experiences Lab, Social Technologies Lab)
- Technology Architect at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and Quadracci Sustainable Engineering Lab
- Founder of two R&D companies focused on sustainable solutions for global problems
Research Interests: Benedetta’s work bridges technology and society through projects like the Solar Protocol initiative, which explores energy-positive internet infrastructure, and the Low Power Lab’s development of off-grid systems. She emphasizes participatory design, user-centered approaches, and open-source collaboration to create resilient networks and IoT solutions for underserved communities.
Key Contributions: Her research addresses equitable access to life-sustaining resources through solar microgrids, real-time monitoring systems, and distributed infrastructure. Recent projects include deploying 24/7 water kiosks in Africa and developing decentralized energy networks for disaster resilience.
Labs & Affiliations:
- Center for Urban Science + Progress (CUSP)
- Low Power Lab
- Partnerships with UNICEF, UN, and Millennium Villages Project
