Learn more about the speakers and organizations that have been part of our program.
Micah Gold-Markel with Solar States
Founder of Solar States
micah@solar-states.com
Micah Gold-Markel, distinguished as Solar Power World’s 2022 Top Solar Changemaker, has established himself as an entrepreneurial force and a community stalwart in the solar energy sector of Philadelphia. His company, Solar States, a certified B-Corporation, stands as a testament to his dual-mission of addressing environmental issues while revitalizing the local economy with sustainable jobs. His collaborative efforts with organizations like PowerCorps PHL, Philadelphia OIC, the Energy Coordinating Agency, and the Philadelphia Energy Authority have led to the creation of numerous educational pathways, from hands-on installation training to solar technology sales and design, ensuring that the solar workforce is as diverse as it is skilled. Micah is a licensed & certified master electrician in Delaware, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, IREC Master Trainer, and NABCEP PV Installation Professional.
TripleC Event: Multi-Use Solar Energy in Urban Environments
Caroline Merheb
PhD Candidate, Geoscience
Temple University
Earth and Environmental Science Department
caroline.merheb@temple.edu
Caroline Merheb is PhD Candidate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Temple University. A civil engineer by training, her research focuses on designing and implementing multifunctional landscapes that support renewable energy production, agriculture, and community benefits in urban areas. Caroline recently won an international student design competition for her innovative urban agrivoltaic project, which addresses the interconnected challenges of food access, climate resilience, and the creation of vibrant community spaces. Her work has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature Sustainability and Energy Policy.
TripleC Event: Multi-Use Solar Energy in Urban Environments
Dr. Sujith Ravi
Associate Professor
Temple University
Director of the Environmental Science Program
Department of Earth & Environmental Science
sujith.ravi@temple.edu
Sujith Ravi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Temple University, where he leads interdisciplinary research at the intersection of land, water, climate, and sustainability. His work explores how human activity and natural disturbances — from agriculture to wildfires — shape our soil, water, and vegetation, and what that means for building a more resilient food and energy future. He holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences (Hydrology) from the University of Virginia and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University’s Center on Food Security and the Environment. He’s a recipient of the prestigious NSF CAREER Award and has been honored for excellence in scientific scholarship, peer review, and mentoring. His research has been featured in leading journals such as Global Change Biology, Nature Sustainability, Nature, Journal of Geophysical Research, and Water Resources Research. Dr. Ravi also serves as Associate Editor for two major scientific journals: Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface and Ecosphere.
TripleC Event: Multi-Use Solar Energy in Urban Environments
Kate Yandell
Staff Science Writer at FactCheck.org.
kate.yandell@gmail.com
Kate Yandell is a staff writer for FactCheck.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan website that monitors the accuracy of statements from major U.S. political figures and popular social media posts. Kate is a member of the SciCheck team, which focuses on false and misleading claims about science. FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Kate has been a science journalist since 2012 and holds an M.A. in journalism from New York University’s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting program. She received her undergraduate degree in English and biology from Williams College.
TripleC Event: Climate Communication, Public Perception, and Misinformation
Dr. Meghnaa Tallapragada
Assistant Professor
Temple University
Department of Advertising & Public Relations
Media and Communication Doctoral Program
Klein College of Media and Communication
meghnaa.tallapragada@temple.edu
Meghnaa Tallapragada, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. She is passionate about combining her background as an engineer (B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, CBIT, India) with her training as a strategic science communication scholar (Ph.D. in Communication, Cornell University; postdoctoral fellow, Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania) to explore how we can build healthier relationships between the public and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Her research has been supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other organizations, and her work has been published in journals such as Environmental Communication, Health Communication, Risk Analysis, Science Communication, and Public Understanding of Science.
TripleC Event: Climate Communication, Public Perception, and Misinformation
Dr. Todd Schifeling
Associate Professor
Temple University
Fox School of Business and Management
todd.schifeling@temple.edu
Todd Schifeling’s research investigates the organizational and strategic dimensions of business sustainability, seeking to shed light on the mechanisms that drive change towards sustainability as well as those that impede it. This research examines the energy transition and the B Corp movement, and has been published in leading academic journals and popular outlets. He also teaches corporate sustainability and social entrepreneurship at Temple’s Fox School of Business, including the school’s first B Impact Team where students help local companies to navigate the B Impact Assessment.
TripleC Event: Role of B-Corporations in the Sustainable Business Landscape
Madelyn Koch
Philadelphia Energy Authority
mkoch@philaenergy.org
Madelyn Koch serves as a community and sustainability coordinator at Triple Bottom Brewing, bringing people together through events, coordinating with staff and partners to maintain recycling and waste diversion processes and assisting with the TBB’s BCorp recertification process. Additionally, she is the Business Engagement and Career Coordinator for Philadelphia Energy Authority’s Workforce Development team. Her and her team provide training and employment opportunities in the clean energy and energy efficiency sectors for those in marginalized communities, supporting the organization’s mission of being a catalyst for the growth of a robust, equitable, diverse clean energy economy in Philadelphia through the development of long-term energy projects, policy, education and market-building activities. She has received a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s in Marketing from Penn State University.
TripleC Event: Role of B-Corporations in the Sustainable Business Landscape