UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jamil Bey, who graduated with both his master’s degree and doctorate in geography from Penn State, has been awarded the President's Medal by the Geological Society of America (GSA) for 2023. The award is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of geosciences, according to the GSA. Bey was recognized for his work in geosciences and environmental justice.
Bey is the chief executive officer and founder of the UrbanKind Institute, which he described as “a Pittsburgh-based think-and-do tank.” His work centers on the intersection of geosciences with urban challenges, focusing on the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. His approach involves community engagement, information sharing and policy advocacy in areas related to the environment, climate change and quality of life.
“This was one of those recognitions that I really appreciate and am proud of,” Bey said. “It was specific about recognizing the work that we were doing, connecting the Earth sciences and bridging community groups and connecting voices that wouldn't always be talking about that into this space.”
Under Bey’s leadership, UrbanKind Institute works toward bridging the gap between academia, community organizations and residents, with the goal of fostering collaboration to uplift urban areas. Bey's efforts are centered around local engagement and the belief that, “cities should be kind places for people.”
His journey in this field began while teaching high school, where he observed and sought to address barriers faced by students and their families. This led to the establishment of UrbanKind aimed at elevating the voices of overburdened and under-resourced residents.
One of Bey’s favorite projects is the "Trust Trees" initiative, which involves engaging local residents in tree planting to improve urban forestry and community engagement. The event emphasizes the legacy and long-term benefits of these efforts for urban communities.
“This approach isn't just about planting trees; it's about creating a legacy and instilling pride in the community,” Bey said. “We involve families, print photos of them planting trees, so in the future, they can return to these trees, seeing the tangible results of their work. These trees contribute to better air quality, asthma reduction, stormwater management and cooler communities, among other benefits. It's about empowering the community, showing them what they can achieve together and then helping them build on this success for further improvements."
Bey’s approach to geosciences is rooted in his experiences and education at Penn State. He credited his time at the University for exposing him to various ways of thinking and the interconnectedness of different challenges.
"I was exposed to so many ways of thinking about interconnections and challenges we face,” Bey said. “I remember being blown away, learning about others' work, like Melissa Wright and Lorraine Dowler bringing excluded voices into dialogues, and connecting them to issues I hadn't considered in grad school. This exposure, talking to professors like Karl Zimmer and Ikubolajeh Logan, discussing globalization and inclusion, really connected everything in my mind. My mentor, Lakshman Yapa, always asked thought-provoking questions, pushing us to think deeper about our work and its implications. I'm really appreciative of that experience and apply it in my work."
Thinking about how his experiences in the Department of Geography shaped his approach to environmental challenges, Bey highlighted the importance of addressing these issues through a broader, more inclusive lens.
"Rather than thinking in isolation about challenges like climate change or water resources as problems solely for ecologists to solve, we've expanded those conversations to include unreconciled racial history and the economics of extraction,” Bey said. “We look for solutions that include people excluded from the economy in mitigation and remediation efforts. This means thinking about who benefits most from urban and community forests or riparian restoration, and how we can invest in these people to manage these resources and be part of the solution, thereby making amends for past harms our economy and political systems have created."
Bey also reflected on his career trajectory and the broader implications of his work.
“It’s about connecting the researchers’ goals to the community goals," Bey said. "When researchers come from impacted communities, they are more likely to have a personal perspective more so than an academic perspective.”