Douglas Meffert

Full time 2007-2008

Photo by Doug Cogger

Douglas Meffert is a rare combination of scientist and community activist.  The Loeb Fellowship’s first Fellow ever from New Orleans, is trained as an environmental scientist at the Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research.  But much of his work, both in New Orleans and elsewhere, has been with community groups who have a stake in the health and renewal of their neighborhoods. He believes that, especially in fragile environments like New Orleans, the issues of urban sustainability and natural systems sustainability are integrally related.  In order to have a real recovery in this devastated environment, it is essential to keep each of these issues in simultaneous clear focus.  Doug is one of three individuals who have conceived of “RiverSphere”, a multi-use facility that will simultaneously undertake research, education and celebrations about our rivers. He co-chaired the Sustainability Subcommittee of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission and has worked with several neighborhood groups on plans for their renewal.  He is also involved in the international arena as the New Orleans coordinator for UNESCO’s Urban Biosphere Program and the director of a project through the Japan Foundation’s Center for Global Partnership – both of which are working to improve information sharing and joint research among cities of the world that face these natural disaster threats.As a fellow, Doug will work on further refining his model for urban and natural sustainability and will also study urban design and landscape architecture while at the GSD.