On Friday, March 28, 2025, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences hosted the 17th annual Graduate Student Research Conference celebrating academic excellence among the department’s Professional Masters Programs. Over 60 Master of Environmental Studies (MES) and Master of Science in Applied Geosciences (MSAG) students participated in the event’s poster presentations, where they discussed their research with fellow students, staff and faculty, family, and friends.
Here is a sample of student research presented at the event:
Desra Arriyadi (MES '25): A decade of the Warsaw framework for REDD+: updates and challenges in reference levels
The quality and accuracy of a country’s REDD+ reporting on carbon emissions from deforestation is linked to emissions-reduction funding for the UN and the World Bank. In his research, Desra studied the reports from 59 developing countries and identified the most challenging elements to creating an accurate and effective report. “I found that the most challenging part is about how to estimate carbon stock,” Desra says. He recommends that stakeholders like the World Bank and FAO focus on capacity-building training in developing countries that focus on carbon stock estimation for biomass and emissions factor improvements.
After graduation, Desra plans to continue in the forest sector and help his home country of Indonesia reduce its deforestation and carbon emission rates.
As graduation approaches, Desra has been honored as a 2025 Dean’s Scholar for his outstanding academic work among professional master’s program students.
Margaret Dunkelberger (MSAG '25): Considerations for stormwater infiltration systems in karst regions of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a region geologically prone to sinkholes due to karst landscapes. In her research, Margaret discovered that the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, which guides the state’s infiltration practices, contains few references to karst and little research on the soluble carbonate rocks. “As I dug deeper, I realized that there's not a lot of research on karst and infiltration systems in general.” That additional research, she concluded, is needed to help build a better state manual to guide developers on if and how infiltration projects should move forward.
Margaret currently works for an engineering company assessing development sites. She chose to pursue her MSAG in part to qualify for her state licensure. “In the fall, I will be eligible to take my professional geologist licensing exam,” she shares.
As an online student who lives about two hours from Philadelphia, she was excited to come to campus for the event and have the chance to meet some of her classmates and professors face-to-face.
This May, Margaret will be honored by the department with the 2025 Award for Excellence in Applied Geosciences.
Shrey Mehta (MES '25): Advancing grid flexibility in New England: Economic and performance metrics for storage-driven renewable integration
Looking at the New England power grid, Shrey concluded that decarbonizing the electricity system through transitioning to renewable energy supported by battery storage is technically and economically feasible. His model, he says, can be applied to other markets as well.
After graduation, Shrey shares, “I want to be in the energy modeling space,” noting his positive experience working with the International Energy Agency in Paris last summer. For future students, he recommends maximizing your time on campus by getting engaged. “Penn has a huge amount of resources,” he says. “I engaged with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, the Water Center—there are so many different centers. Engage with them and make the most of it, because a master's program is short, it’s only two years, and it just flies by.”
This May, Shrey will be honored by the department with the 2025 Award for Excellence in Environmental Studies.
Gwendolyn Cochran (MES '25): Scaling community solar in Pennsylvania: A case study of roadblocks and opportunities in Philadelphia
Supported by her research, Gwen contends that expanding solar energy programs is essential for achieving the state’s climate goals, but policy changes are needed to support community solar adoption. Gwen also presented her research earlier this semester as a finalist in the Energy Week at Penn’s Lightning Talks competition.
Caitlin Nappi (MES '25): Rising seas: A case study analysis of New York City policy and sea level rise
Caitlin focused her research on New York City and whether its policies and practices are properly addressing the expected sea level rise risk in the coming years. Analyzing five different categories (equity, adoption, integration, leadership, and economy) she concluded that the city is a leader in the field and its analysis framework can serve as a model for other cities.
Of her time at Penn, she says, “I really love the program and everybody that I've been able to meet; I’ve made a lot of strong connections, and I feel like I've been able to widen the circle of people I know and benefit from a lot of the resources provided. It's been a great experience.”
For supplemental information, guests were invited to review students’ research abstracts.
After the poster session, Program Director Siobhan Whadcoat, PhD, provided opening remarks followed by a keynote address by Penn professor, climate scientist, and author Michael E. Mann, PhD, entitled Climate Change and the Path Forward. The program also included tables from local organizations and employers like the Sustainable Business Network and the Philadelphia Water Department. The evening concluded with a networking happy hour.
