The Environmental Planning, Policy, and Innovation Section
About Us
Who We Are
The Academy of Natural Sciences’ EPPI section is comprised of environmental planners, policymakers, natural scientists, and communication specialists.
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Our Mission
We inform and enable innovative, just, and sustainable solutions to the next generation of environmental challenges.
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Our Scope
Based in Philadelphia, with regional expertise and international reach, we focus on environmental issues that are multi-faceted and varied in scale – such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, urban ecology, localized environmental concerns, and watershed planning and management.
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Our Tools
We conduct transdisciplinary, problem-centric research that aims to generate useful scientific knowledge; advise and collaborate with public decision-makers, including elected officials and regulators, planners, and resource managers; oversee the implementation of complex environmental projects that bridge science, policy, and a range of stakeholders; and serve as ANS’ science liaison.
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Our Projects
COMMUNITY-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Science Shop
A collaboration between Academy of Natural Science’s EPPI and Community Science Departments, Science Shop is a community-based participatory research (CBPR) program that fosters equitable partnerships with community-based organizations to address their most pressing environmental justice concerns. Like its European namesake, Science Shop mobilizes technical, legal, and scientific resources at Drexel and ANS in service of community driven research projects. Science Shop projects focus on understanding and ameliorating a range of community level environmental problems and concerns, from lead paint hazards and air pollution to safe drinking water and food security. Current and past partners include the Overbrook Environmental Education Center, Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together, the Camden Center for Neighborhood Transformation, Route 9 CDC, and the Claymont Coalition for Environmental Justice. Funders include the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Science Shop Events and News:
Science on Tap: Community Based Research for Climate Resilience
Germantown Climate Resilience Plan
EPPI is partnering with Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together (GREAT) to develop a community-driven climate resilience plan inspired by the National Association of Climate Resilience Planners framework. GREAT is a collective of Germantown residents working to co-create systems rooted in social justice to shape a community that thrives on collective work and responsibility. Meetings for this project typically take place in the new Germantown Watershed, a hub for flooding and climate resilience resources located at 5300 Wayne Avenue. The Watershed is a joint project of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Mural Arts, and the Philadelphia Water Department. This work is funded by the William Penn Foundation.
Resilient Communities Stormwater Initiative (RCSI)
EPPI is a founding partner of the Resilient Communities Stormwater Initiative (RCSI), a coalition of organizations focused on implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and complementary greening projects in historically underserved urban communities to reduce stormwater runoff, advance community goals, and increase climate resiliency. RCSI operates at the neighborhood scale to leverage individual GSI projects towards greater water quality impacts and a shared community vision. Funders include the William Penn Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
RCSI News and Events
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM EVALUATION
PowerCorpsPHL
The EPPI section is leading an evaluation of PowerCorpsPHL’s tree planting and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) workforce development program. PowerCorpsPHL is a nonprofit organization that provides young people with paid work experience planting trees and maintaining GSI to decrease environmental hazards and increase the racial diversity of the urban forestry workforce. In addition to designing and implementing a quasi-experimental design evaluation, EPPI is processing, analyzing, and visualizing relevant tree health, tree planting, and GSI datasets to measure the environmental impact of PowerCorpsPHL’s maintenance work.
Bartram’s Garden
EPPI is conducting an evaluation of Bartram’s Garden’s urban forestry and farm youth internship program. These programs engage high school students and young adults from Southwest Philadelphia and are focused on skill building, agriculture, arboriculture, and ecosystems management. Through pre- and post-surveys and small focus groups, EPPI is supporting Bartram’s in enhancing and growing these essential youth programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL MAPPING AND VISUALIZATION
Philadelphia Office of Sustainability EJ Mapping Tool
EPPI is working in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability (OOS) to develop a publicly accessible environmental justice (EJ) mapping tool for the city of Philadelphia that identifies Philadelphia neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards and lacking equitable access to key services and environmental amenities that would strengthen their resilience. OOS is developing this tool to guide decision-making and policy. It may inform decisions around program development, evaluation, and allocation of resources. This tool will also serve educational and advocacy purposes and increase data accessibility for residents and community-based organizations. This work is funded by the William Penn Foundation and the Philadelphia City Fund.
Office of Sustainability EJ Mapping In the News:
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-environmental-justice-mapping-tool/
Green Living Plan Maps
In 2023, a coalition of local environmental and neighborhood-based organizations produced a city-wide, community-driven agenda— the Green Living Plan— to share with the city’s candidates for Mayor. The agenda outlines environmentally focused and neighborhood-based policy, as well as programmatic and investment solutions to Philadelphia’s most pressing quality of life challenges. EPPI supported the coalition in creating a publicly available online map to visualize environmental issues of concern and to help the future mayor prioritize the most overburdened and underserved neighborhoods for investment. This work was funded by the Environmental Collaboratory of Drexel University.
The Green Living Plan in the News:
The Philadelphia Citizen, A Green Agenda for the Next Mayor, 2023
Breathe Right
EPPI is collaborating with the Overbrook Environmental Education Center and Villanova University to understand air quality in West Philadelphia by installing one of Philadelphia’s first community level air quality monitoring networks. In 2023, over 40 PurpleAir monitors were installed in West Philadelphia to collect both indoor and outdoor air quality information over two years. EPPI staff are analyzing and visualizing the resulting data for community education and advocacy. This work is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Breathe Right in the News:
Grid Magazine, Community Air Quality Monitoring, 2024
Green Gentrification in Philadelphia
To support the Resilient Community Stormwater Initiative, EPPI conducted a literature review on green gentrification, as well as best practices for reducing displacement caused by green agendas and practices. As part of this work, EPPI staff created an online map of gentrification in Philadelphia neighborhoods, using two key gentrification indices drawn from the literature.
For additional information, or to use this data, contact map developer, Winn Costantini.
Other Projects
- Philly Mobile Energy Centers
- Delaware River Watershed Initiative
- Three Rivers Watershed Water Leaders Incubator Program
Staff
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Roland Wall (he/him)
Director, Patrick Center for Environmental Research
Rjw85@drexel.edu
In the past 20 years, Roland Wall has worked in a variety of positions for the Academy of Natural Sciences. Starting as a science writer, he developed and managed the Academy’s Town Square program and led the Academy’s involvement in the Urban Sustainability Forum. In 2007 he initiated the Center for Environmental Policy, spearheading the Academy’s involvement in policy and sustainability issues. In 2012 he launched the Academy’s involvement in the William Penn Foundation’s watershed protection planning, resulting in the launch of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative. Director of the Patrick Center, he manages the Academy’s environmental research projects, including the interdisciplinary science team that monitors and supports the DRWI. He serves on the Academy’s Senior Management Committee and was part of the team that coordinated the integration with Drexel University. He is responsible for setting strategic direction of the Patrick Center as well as its day-to-day operation. He holds a B.A. in political science and an M.S. in entomology and applied ecology, both from the University of Delaware. He is an adjunct professor with the Drexel University Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, and a (very) part time doctoral student in the same department.
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Alexis Schulman (she/her)
Director, Environmental Policy, Planning and Innovation Department
As5293@drexel.edu
Alexis is the Dolan Fellow for Innovation in Water Science at the Academy of Natural Sciences, and Assistant Research Professor in Drexel's Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science. She is an environmental planner and social scientist interested in understanding what drives green, resilient innovation in urban infrastructure, policy; and planning. Her research has focused on the adoption of green stormwater infrastructure in US cities; the use of local ecological knowledge in natural resource management sciences; and the promises and pitfalls of adaptive management programs. In the Patrick Center, she leads a portfolio of projects focused on collaborative, community-driven research, planning, and environmental mapping in the Philadelphia region. Her team works with community-based partners across Philadelphia, Camden, and Delaware, including Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together (GREAT), the Overbrook Environmental Education Center, Empowered CDC, and the Center for Environmental Transformation. She received her PhD and master’s in urban studies and planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Princeton University.
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Carol R. Collier, FAICP, FAWRA (she/her)
Senior Advisor for Watershed Management and Policy
crc92@drexel.edu
Carol Collier serves as senior advisor and government liaison. She served for more than 15 years as executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) before joining the Academy. Before joining DRBC, she was executive director of Pennsylvania’s 21st Century Environment Commission and director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Southeast Region. Prior to PADEP, Collier served 19 years with BCM Environmental Engineers, Inc., beginning as a student intern and ultimately becoming vice president of environmental planning, science, and risk.
Carol is Vice-Chair of the PA/DE Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and serves on the Conservation Council of the NJ TNC, the Pinchot Institute for Conservation (Chair – 2011-2012), the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin and the Fund for Fairmount Water Works. She has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University and published on environmental and water-related topics. She has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Legislature. In 2015 and 2016 she attended the UN Climate Change Conferences, COP 21 and 22, in Paris and Marrakesh, respectively, She believes proper management of water resources is the key to our economic and environmental future. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Smith College and a master’s degree in regional planning from University of Pennsylvania.
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Winn Costantini (he/him & they/them)
Environmental Planning and Policy Researcher and Geospatial Data Scientist
wc555@drexel.edu
Winn Costantini is an Environmental Policy and Planning Researcher and Geospatial Data Scientist at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Winn has expertise in environmental justice-focused geospatial analysis and tool development, participatory action research, and multi-organizational initiatives. Their work focuses on a portfolio of projects in Philadelphia and Delaware at the intersection of environmental justice and racial and health equity. Before working at ANS, Winn facilitated the Housing Equity, Repair, and Electrification for Climate Justice (HERE4CJ) coalition, which advocates for safe, affordable, and fossil-free housing in Philadelphia. Winn holds a Master of City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Their graduate work focused on the role of workforce development in climate, economic, and racial justice movements, as well as using geospatial analysis to improve urban water affordability. Winn hold a B.A. from Williams College, where they studied psychology and environmental policy
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Kathryn Christopher (she/her)
Manager, Science Communication and Outreach
Kac388@drexel.edu
Kathryn Christopher is manager of science communication and outreach at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. She facilitates and supports meaningful communications, outreach and public engagement initiatives relating to science and human impacts. Her work centers on connecting Academy science and scientists with the public and enhancing messaging of the Academy’s positions on climate change, water, evolution, and biodiversity and extinction.
After first starting at the Academy in 2012 as a volunteer in the Botany Department, Christopher was hired as a field technician in 2013 to support the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, and then worked as an Academy staff scientist before being named manager of science communication and outreach in 2018. She has a master’s degree in environmental science from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Penn State University.
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Arthi Sivendra (she/her)
Research Assistant
as5468@drexel.edu
Arthi Sivendra is a Research Assistant supporting multiple projects in the EPPI department including Science Shop, the Office of Sustainability’s environmental justice mapping tool, and project evaluation for PowerCorpsPHL and Bartram’s Garden. She started working at ANS as a Co-Op student in 2023 as the Community Science Assistant Coordinator for the Science Shop.
Prior to her research assistant position, Arthi conducted research at the Energy Rights Project with Dr. Alison Kenner to study household energy use in Philadelphia. Arthi graduated from Drexel University in 2024. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and a minor in Data Science.
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Associated Staff
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Akilah Chatman (they/them)
Community Science Specialist
ac3898@drexel.edu
Akilah Chatman (They/Them) is a community-based researcher based on Lenni Lenape land. In 2022 Akilah graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in Environmental Science, and then spent a year in Cambodia on Fulbright doing environmental consulting work. With a background in environmental justice research, they specialize in relationship building as a key part of community-based work. Their work focuses on developing and managing Science Shop for Climate resilience, a community-based research program, and co-developing community-based learning courses with urban heritage farmers, and they are known for bringing a decolonial lens to their projects. In addition to being a researcher, Akilah enjoys gardening, cooking, staying active, spending time in nature and making art with their hands. They are passionate about culturally based solutions to connect folks to their land
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Zoe Kerrich (she/they)
Resilience Planner and Geospatial Manager
Zoe.kerrich@drexel.edu
Zoe Kerrich is a Resilience Planner and Geospatial Manager at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Zoe has expertise in climate resilience planning, geospatial data analysis and visualization, and evaluating the physical and economic impacts of climate change. At the Academy, she focuses on community-driven resilience planning and research, developing accessible geospatial web tools, and watershed modeling. Prior to joining the Academy, Zoe supported climate resilience planning for federal, state, municipal, and quasi-governmental entities with an emphasis on improving standard operating procedures and the blending green of gray infrastructure solutions.
Zoe holds a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, where she focused on municipal climate resilience planning and water supplier vulnerability to saltwater intrusion. Prior to graduate school, Zoe worked on modeling physical and economic impacts of climate change to a range of sectors including agriculture, transportation, and wetland ecosystems; supporting air quality management plans; and evaluating socially vulnerable populations’ exposure to contaminated lands and future climate hazards. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Wesleyan University
Prior to her research assistant position, Arthi conducted research at the Energy Rights Project with Dr. Alison Kenner to study household energy use in Philadelphia. Arthi graduated from Drexel University in 2024. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and a minor in Data Science.
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Co-Ops
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Victoria Rodríguez Villarreal (she/her), Drexel ‘25
Science Shop Assistant Coordinator Co-op
Victoria Rodriguez joined EPPI as a Science Shop Assistant Coordinator and Drexel undergraduate Co-op at the Academy of Natural Sciences as Spring/Summer 2024 Drexel co-op. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with minors in Social Entrepreneurship and Climate Change and a concentration in Environmental Health Policy in 2025. In addition to her research, she actively contributes to organizations such as Generation Unlimited, Philadelphia Global Shapers, Re-Earth Initiative, and Latinas por el Clima.
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Melanie Kovacs, Drexel ‘22
Science Communication and Outreach Co-op
Melanie Kovacs was the 2020-2021 Science Communication and Outreach Co-Op at the Academy's Patrick Center while a student at Drexel University working towards her Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in environmental studies. She was previously a volunteer at the Manalapan Township (NJ) Environmental Commission organizing events to teach community members about environmentalism. She was the director of community service for Delta Gamma Women’s Fraternity. Melanie worked on various projects with the EPPI section, such as updating website content, writing posts for the Academy’s blog, and collaborating with the Academy’s Marketing department to conduct research.
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