PUERTO RICO – This summer, the International Institute of Tropical Forestry hosted the first USDA E. Kika De La Garza Science Fellow at a USDA Forest Service research facility. Dr. Iván Guzmán, a civil engineering professor at the New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, New York, is one of 32 faculty and staff members from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Hispanic-Serving School Districts around the nation that make up the 2024 class of E. Kika De La Garza Fellows.

Making urban areas more sustainable through green roofs
More than half of the world’s populations now resides in cities, where urban heat islands present a significant challenge to the well-being of urban residents. One innovative solution to this problem is the integration of green spaces into urban landscapes, with green roofs emerging as a particularly promising option. 

New York City’s Local Law 92 and 94 of 2019, established that all new buildings and alterations of existing buildings, where the entire existing roof is being replaced, must have a “sustainable roofing zone,” meaning that the roof must be covered by a solar photovoltaic electricity generating system, a green roof system or a combination of both. As a result, Guzmán took an interest in green roof design and research. He proposed that City Tech, a university with a big Hispanic and minority student population, install a green roof for research, educational and recreational purposes. 

“My aim is to provide my students with the necessary knowledge and training to support the emerging green roof workforce in New York City. They can then become leaders in the industry, while also bringing this technology to their NYC neighborhoods where this technology is needed the most,” expressed Guzmán. 

Guzmán was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He completed his undergraduate studies in civil engineering at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez before receiving his doctoral degree in civil/geotechnical engineering from New York University School of Engineering. He decided to visit the institute after learning about IITF Resource Assistant Program intern Iana Grullón Penkova’s master’s thesis, Green roofs in the tropics: design considerations and vegetation dynamics. 

During his week in Puerto Rico, Guzmán visited three green roofs:  IITF Headquarters, the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, and the Cuartel de Ballajá (The Ballajá Infantry Barracks Building). At each location, he was able to interact with managers, discussing the benefits and challenges of green roofs in tropical climates. 

In addition to the green roofs, the week’s agenda included tours of the University of Puerto Rico Urban Gardens and Pollinator Garden, the UPR Botanical Garden Herbarium, UPR Entomology Biodiversity Bug Museum, Cambalache Tree Nursery, Capetillo Forest Community Garden, and the USDA Forest Service Sabana Field Research Station. Through these visits, Guzmán learned about plants that may work best when building green roofs. 

“I was happy to learn that gandules (pigeon pea plant) have a short harvest time, about three to four months, which is perfect, since it can be planted and harvested  within a semester laboratory course,” expressed Guzmán, “This is a food that is part of most of my Hispanic student’s regular diet, so it is also symbolic of the goal of fostering connections with urban Hispanic culture.”  

Iana Grullón Penkova, program operations assistant RAP intern, and Engineer Antonio Marquez discuss IITF Headquarters green roofs with Dr. Iván Guzmán. (USDA Forest Service photo by Diana Martínez)

Fellowship bridges connections between Hispanic Serving Institutions and USDA
The USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program strengthens educational partnerships with faculty and staff from HSIs to collaborate with USDA to gain insight and understanding of the federal government. Science fellows spend one week in Washington D.C., and one additional week in a USDA research facility to engage with USDA programs and gain insights into agricultural practices, policy and research. The IITF is proud to have hosted the first fellow placed in a Forest Service research institution for this fellowship.