Sam Anderson, Harvest NY, Cornell University
Aleah Butler-Jones, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
Joshua (Zhongqi) Cheng, Brooklyn College, CUNY
Sara Perl Egendorf, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
Yolanda Gonzalez, Harvest NY, Cornell University
Jenny Kao-Kniffin, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
Murray McBride, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
Jonathan Russell-Anelli, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
Henry Spliethoff, NYS Department of Health
Kyle Wickings, Department of Entomology, Cornell Agritech
Sam Anderson is an Urban Agriculture Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Harvest New York team. He works with urban farmers throughout New York City, providing technical assistance and resources with an emphasis on soil management and integrated pest management for market-scale vegetable growers. For this project, Sam will conduct extension and outreach for urban farmers, collect and analyze agronomic soil data as part of a survey of agricultural soils in NYC, and provide field observations to inform and support research efforts.
Jean Bonhotal is the Director of the Cornell Waste Management Institute and a Senior Extension Associate with the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. Jean brings years of experience in policy development on many waste topics including recycling, composting, waste reduction, agricultural waste management, and soil health. Her expertise will be especially valuable to the Ag in the City project’s research and outreach activities focused on compost production and use.
Aleah Butler-Jones is an Extension Aide with the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. Her work focuses on weed management in turf, landscape, and horticultural systems. For this project, Aleah will support research and extension efforts related to the better understanding and improvement of urban agricultural production and soils.
Zhongqi (Joshua) Cheng is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Brooklyn College and Director of the Environmental Sciences Analytical Center. With expertise in environmental and soil sciences he conducts research on urban soils, environmental geochemistry and urban sustainability. For this project, Dr. Cheng will provide expertise in soil contamination and soil testing to inform the development and implementation of research and outreach activities in regards to soils in NYC.
Sara Perl Egendorf (aka Perl) is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Atkinson Center for Sustainability at Cornell University. She conducts research on urban soil contaminants, nutrient cycling, and how newly constructed soils can support climate change mitigation and environmental justice. She conducted the first pilot study for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation’s Clean Soil Bank and will expand upon this work in the Cornell Agriculture in the City project by supporting field and greenhouse studies, conducting lab analyses, and coordinating data sharing between stakeholder groups.
Yolanda Gonzalez is an Urban Agriculture Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension. She works with New York City urban farmers providing technical assistance and educational programming in food safety, mushroom cultivation, season extension, and lean farming. With Ag in the City, Yolanda will be providing ongoing input on project direction, evaluation of project goals and objectives, and assist with outreach efforts.
Jenny Kao-Kniffin is an Associate Professor with the School of Integrative Plant Sciences at Cornell University. Her work focuses on the belowground ecology of agricultural and landscape system specifically the underlying microbial-based mediation of plant traits that impact ecosystem function. With this project, Jenny will oversee research activities in soil ecology with the goal of connecting research and resources to communities to improve urban food production and access in New York City.
Murray McBride is a Professor with the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. His research and extension activities focus on the bioavailability of toxic and trace metals in soils to crops, animals, and humans. For this project, Murray will serve as a technical advisor and provide expertise in soil chemistry and soil science to inform the development and implementation of research activities and resulting recommendations for building healthy urban soils.
Tapan Parikh is an Associate Professor at Cornell Tech and in the Department of Information Science at Cornell University. His research focuses on the design, assessment, and implementation of information technologies for education, governance, and international development. Tapan will assist in the development of technologies to improve the interconnectivity between NYC compost producers, urban growers, and consumers.
Jonathan Russell-Anelli is a Senior Lecturer with the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. His research examines the spatial distribution and variability of soil characteristics in urban and human influenced environments with particular focus on contaminants and their impact on urban land use and agriculture. With this project, Jonathan will continue his research, teaching, and extension activities related to urban soils and urban agriculture and provide information to create a healthier NYC for urban planners, managers, and residents.
Hannah Shayler is an Extension Associate with the Cornell Waste Management Institute in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. She leads the Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities program and related efforts that work with community partners to address concerns about lead and other soil contaminants in gardens, schools, residential properties, and other spaces. With Ag in the City, Hannah will continue to support research and extension/outreach efforts focused on best practices for healthy, sustainable urban food systems.
Henry Spliethoff is a Research Scientist and chief of the Prevention and Sustainability Section with the New York State Department of Health. His background is in human health risk assessment and exposure assessment for chemicals in the environment, such as contaminants in soil. He will consult on this project to help promote the health and well-being of those who work in and benefit from urban agriculture.
Kyle Wickings is an associate professor of entomology at Cornell Agritech. Kyle’s research and extension programs focus on soil arthropod ecology, both mitigating damage by soil-dwelling pests and promoting arthropod-driven ecosystems services such as soil fertility, soil structure, predation and organic matter decomposition in turfgrass and agricultural systems. For this project, Kyle’s expertise will be used to assess insect and soil-borne pest pressures on urban farms and increase understanding of the biological controls on organic matter dynamics in urban systems.