The public health risks posed by data centers have been discussed but never reliably quantified… until now! Join Nature Forward for an eye-opening Conservation Café to discover the hidden public health costs of data centers. Dr. Shaolei Ren, a leading researcher from the University of California, Riverside, will reveal groundbreaking findings about how air pollution from data centers imposes both physical health risks and financial burdens on our communities. These findings underscore the critical and urgent need for stricter regulations on data centers, and you’ll learn how you can advocate for healthier policies in Maryland and Virginia. Together, we can ensure a healthier future for all.

Join us virtually on Tuesday, February 25th at 7pm (4pm PST)  via ZOOM.

Although this event is free, please consider donating to support Nature Forward’s Conservation advocacy, outreach, and education work! You can give any amount by clicking here. 

Professor Ren’s Bio:

Professor Shaolei Ren is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Riverside. His research strives to build socially and environmentally responsible computing, with a broad emphasis on AI, sustainability, and public health. His work has influenced AI policies adopted by international organizations and governments such as the United Nations, UNESCO, WHO, and the Government of Canada, and driven industry innovations such as the first real-time water footprint reporting tool for computing. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award (2015) and several paper awards, including at ACM e-Energy (2024, 2016) and IEEE ICC (2016). He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.