UC awarded a UNESCO Chair
Two researchers will lead international collaborations in water and climate change
The University of Cincinnati was awarded a UNESCO university chair on water and climate change.
UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, develops international research partnerships in education and science, among other areas.
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Amy Townsend-Small and UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor Patrick Ray will collaborate on projects with other scientists around the world.
“I think it will be great to be recognized internationally and have more international partners,” Townsend-Small said.
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Amy Townsend-Small, left, poses with former U.S. Sec. of State Antony Blinken. Photo/Provided
Townsend-Small noted that UNESCO recently designated Ohio’s first World Heritage Site, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks.
Through the appointments, UC is likely to benefit from international funding for research into topics such as hydrological assessments of flood and drought risks, Ray said. He already is working on the first projects and presentations across four continents.
“We will have opportunities to be a global educational destination on our subject matter,” he said.
The World Bank, among other institutions, has expressed their intention to fund educational programs at UC and help bring international scholars to UC, Ray said. The World Bank is an international development organization organized by 189 countries. It addresses poverty by funding projects among the poorest member states.
One of Ray’s first projects will be examining refugees of climate disasters in Madagascar, which has seen a population shift as people move north on the island to escape droughts. Ray and his collaborators will look at whether these population dynamics are temporary or permanent and what that will mean for the nation’s future infrastructure, economic and social needs.
Ray also will assess the risks of droughts and crop failure, among other issues, in Ghana and the risk to life and property in Nepal from glacial meltwater lakes that increasingly are failing catastrophically, causing disastrous flash floods.
It’s a slam dunk for UC.
Patrick Ray, UNESCO Chair on Water and Climate Change
Meanwhile, Townsend-Small is playing host to an Ohio River Valley health conference in August sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Researchers will be looking at issues affecting residents in the Ohio River Valley such as heat-related illness, air quality and sewers that overflow in storms.
UC was nominated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Chair proposal was endorsed by the U.S. State Department.
The UNESCO connection is expected to shine a light on both UC’s Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and the School of Environment and Sustainability. And it will provide unique opportunities for students to work on international projects that promise to make a meaningful difference to people, Ray said.
“It’s a slam dunk for UC,” Ray said.
“Professor Townsend-Small and I have already begun putting together plans for collaborative workshops, certificate programs and short courses,” he said. “We envision the educational footprint to be substantial, integrating adaptation and mitigation in the water sector. The need for courses, curricula and training materials on this topic is large.”
Featured image at top: U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO Jean Elizabeth Manes, left, and UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor Patrick Ray met in Paris this year after his appointment as Chair on Water and Climate Change. Photo/Provided
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next live here.
Related Stories
How can Cincinnati provide more affordable housing? This new lab aims to find out
October 16, 2026
The University of Cincinnati Real Estate Center helped launch a new regional research and development initiative designed to identify, test and scale solutions to the region’s housing challenges called the Housing Innovation Lab. The project is built around a simple idea: What if communities approached housing challenges the way leading companies approach innovation?
Environmental engineer researching methods to monitor river quality
October 16, 2026
Pradeep Ramtel has been conducting research on river water since he was an undergraduate student in Nepal. He is currently a PhD student at the University of Cincinnati and is studying under Associate Professor Dongmei Feng. His research uses collected data and machine learning to better assess risks to river water quality and prepare for problems before they arise. Recently, he was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Collaboration over consultation
October 16, 2026
New University of Cincinnati research published in the journal Health Expectations found stroke survivors participating in rehab research desire an approach that prioritizes shared decision-making, peer relationships and a focus on what they can accomplish rather than their deficits.