Discoveries in D.C. and Delft: Reflections on the Future of Transportation Research and Education
Professor Robert Bertini from Portland State University spoke at Volpe on September 18, 2013, offering insights from his time with the Dutch at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and his two years at the U.S. Department of Transportation. During his talk, Bertini discussed the following:
Transportation is the backbone of our society and our economy, and we face significant challenges and opportunities, including the following:
- Curbing highway fatalities and injuries
- Reviving an aging infrastructure
- Dealing with sustainability issues such as climate change
- Addressing demographic changes
- Influencing behavioral shifts
- Recovering from the financial crisis
- Finding new ways to finance transportation
- Reducing externalities such as congestion, emissions, and noise
What is the role for transportation research and education in meeting these grand challenges? How can you shape your research so your results can better influence policy? How can you make a difference in the transportation field, whether in the public/government, private, or academic/research sectors?
Bertini is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Portland State University. From 2009-2011, he served as deputy administrator of the U.S. DOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration, and from 2011-2012, he was a visiting professor at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Read the news story and view the video from this event.