POTSDAM -- Mark P. Sarkisian will speak about "Engineering for the Future of Our Environment" at Clarkson University Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. in Snell Hall room 213.

Sarkisian is the director of seismic and structural engineering in the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.

He will receive an honorary doctor of science degree at Clarkson's Commencement Saturday, May 11.

"Our planet is being polluted at an alarming rate and most would argue that the damaging effects of carbon emissions on the environment are irreparable. Global warming has already started to have a significant impact on weather patterns and sea level rise. Extreme storms including the recent Hurricane Sandy and flooding of cities like Venice, Italy, are occurring at a disturbingly fast rate,” Sarkisian says.

"The engineering and architectural community has begun to develop new ideas that will help to mitigate the negative impacts on the environment through increased urban density, creative approaches to design, and sustainable district/city-wide developments," he says.

Sarkisian will discuss projects such as the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai; the Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait; the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, Calif.; and the Poly Guangzhou Tower in Beijing, China.

Parametric modeling and recently developed U.S. patents that provide unique solutions to environmentally responsible design and construction will be discussed.

Techniques for calculating carbon in structures and futuristic will also be presented.

A reception with refreshments will follow the lecture.

Visit www.clarkson.edu/about/map.html for directions.